23 October 2018

Social Prescribing - Full Health Briefing

Norwich and Broadland can now refer people to social prescribing Social prescribing is now offered as a referral option to all practices across Norfolk. Clinicians are invited to use this service as appropriate.

In 2017/18, the CCG’s “Healthy Norwich” pilot at 2 surgeries resulted in a 44% reduction in average monthly appointments for patients who had accessed Social Prescribing. 

Patients coming to you may have a wide range of non-medical issues that are damaging their health and wellbeing. Refer to Social Prescribing for quality-assured advice and support for these needs:

What is Social Prescribing

Social prescribing is a means of enabling GPs, Nurses and other Primary Care professions to refer people to a range of local, non-clinical services. Recognising that people's health is determined primarily by a range of social, economic and environmental factors, social prescribing seeks to address people's needs in a holistic way. It also aims to support individuals to take greater control of their own health.

Eligibility

The service is available for any adult over 18 with no upper age limit.

Eligibility for social prescribing is not prescriptive to ensure ease of access and a preventative approach. People who are likely to benefit from the service include those who are experiencing (or at high risk of experiencing):

• Debt or money problems
• Health and employment issues
• Having difficulties with or in need of benefits
• Family and relationship issues
• Memory problems
• Issues that mean individuals are approaching threshold for social care
• Caring responsibilities
• Immigration difficulties
• Low mood or low level anxiety
• Loneliness and isolation

Referral

Refer them to your Integrated Care Coordinator though your usual routes and they will refer them to us. If you would like to discuss alternative referral routes, please contact us at: livingwellworkers@ncab.org.uk

All the Norwich and Broadland Living Well Workers are quality-assured Advisers. They work closely with local organisations and groups, including Integrated Care Coordinators, Active Norfolk, Life Connectors, community groups, befriending services and advice providers. Through supportive diagnostic interviews and motivational interviewing they will:

• Work with the patient to identify their non-medical needs.
• Provide quality-assured advice.
• Identify organisations, community groups and activities that can help.
• Provide a warm referral of the patient to those organisations/groups/activities.
• Monitor the outcomes of those handovers
• Maintain contact with the patient for an average for four sessions, continuing to provide advice and support