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What is Social Prescribing?
"Social prescribing has changed my life and I wouldn't be the person I am today without them" - Nicole
Volunteer Cornwall recently led a partnership bid to the Department of Health & Care for a Social Prescribing Scheme for Cornwall and we're pleased to say this was
successful.
This means we will be investing £900,000 over the next 3 years with funding from the Department of Health and Care in year 1 and also from Public Health, Cornwall Council from year 2. This will not provide coverage for all of Cornwall’s population or practices, but is a significant investment in this approach.
Social prescribing means different things to different people, however, the Social Prescribing Network’s co-produced definition is: ‘Enabling healthcare professionals to refer patients to a link worker, to co-design a nonclinical social prescription to improve their health and wellbeing.’
The focus of our Social Prescribing approach will be addressing social and lifestyle issues at an early stage and preventing ill health rather than managing complex conditions later.
Find out more about how Social Prescribing works through this introductory video:
The partnership consists of 6 voluntary sector organisations and each partner will employ a Link Worker who will work with groups of Practices to take referrals, carry out a person-centred assessment and identify a wide range of appropriate activities to which to refer the person.
The areas have been chosen on the basis of population health need as follows:
Organisation Cluster Practices
Active Plus Penwith East Bodriggy, Marazion, Stennack
Active Plus Penwith West Alverton, Rosmellyn, Morab, Cape, Sunnyside*
Active Plus South Kerrier Helston, Meneage, Mullion, St Keverne
CN4C North Kerrier Clinton Rd, Manor, Phoenix, Veor
Chaos Group Truro Lander, Three Spires
Age UK Newquay Newquay Health Centre, Narrowcliff
Eden Project Rural Cluster/St Austell Clays, Brannel & St Austell
Pentreath Ltd Bodmin Carnewater, Stillmoor
Age UK Liskeard Oak Tree, Old Bridge, Rosedean
(*Funded by GP cluster for 1 year, working with, but not part of, our project)
Case Study
Mrs XXX was referred to me via her GP after experiencing social isolation and quite severely depressed which was not helped by lack of mobility. Initially, when we had our first assessment she did not know what she wanted or what was missing that would help her so this was a bit of a guessing game.
After our first assessment I invited Mrs XXX to join our Cuppa Companions group in Helston to kickstart the process of getting her back into the community, this group consists or other people that are experiencing the same kind of feelings, after a few weeks she became very comfortable with the group and I could safely say she is one of the most confident people there now.
After a few weeks and when she was ready we found a group in her local village that have transport available, they go out once per week collecting her from her home address and dropping her back there afterwards, activities vary each week from either a lunch out or a shopping trip, she doesn’t attend weekly as it depends on what they are doing but does go as and when she wants to.
Finally, after some further discussions with her she wanted to focus on trying to get some exercise, understanding that mobility is not great I signed her up to dance centred 12 week programme which she can do seated and also introduced her to a weekly Pilates class which supports a varied age group and is available either seated or floor based.
I have seen a huge difference in Mrs XXX since the first time I met her when she was really quite down, her confidence is now blooming, she is happy and she is getting involved with people and groups. She really is a different person.
Find Out More
For more information on Social Prescribing visit https://www.socialprescribingcornwall.org.uk/
Contact Ben Gillespie on 07749 416 880 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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