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Useful services and external resources, for your care and career.
This is an expanding directory and current community suggestions are not definitive. Know of a service or resource that should be featured?
A connected society: A strategy for tackling loneliness (HM Government)
The relationships we have with our friends, family, neighbours and colleagues are, for many of us, the most important things in our lives. Increasingly, we understand the link between having strong and meaningful social connections and living a healthy and successful life. And we see that having more connected communities means a more thriving, productive society, in which we can all contribute and live fulfilling lives.
[PDF document from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport]
[UK GOVERNMENT DOCUMENT; INFORMATION APPLICABLE WORLDWIDE]
Delivering a primary care-based social prescribing initiative: a qualitative study of the benefits and challenges (Br J Gen Pract)
Authors: Skivington, K., Smith, M., Chng, N.R., Mackenzie, M., Wyke, S. and Mercer, S.W.
Journal: British Journal of General Practice, 2018; 68 (672): e487-e494
Background: Social prescribing is a collaborative approach to improve inter-sectoral working between primary health care and community organisations. The Links Worker Programme (LWP) is a social prescribing initiative in areas of high deprivation in Glasgow, Scotland, that is designed to mitigate the negative impacts of the social determinants of health.
Aim: To investigate issues relevant to implementing a social prescribing programme to improve inter-sectoral working to achieve public health goals.
[UK JOURNAL; ACCESSIBLE AND RELEVANT WORLDWIDE]
Social Prescribing (NHS England)
Social prescribing is a way for local agencies to refer people to a link worker. Link workers give people time, focusing on ‘what matters to me’ and taking a holistic approach to people’s health and wellbeing. They connect people to community groups and statutory services for practical and emotional support.
Link workers also support existing community groups to be accessible and sustainable, and help people to start new groups, working collaboratively with all local partners.
Social prescribing works for a wide range of people, including people:
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with one or more long-term conditions
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who need support with their mental health
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who are lonely or isolated
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who have complex social needs which affect their wellbeing
[UK NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE; INFORMATION RELEVANT WORLDWIDE]
What is social prescribing? (The King's Fund)
Social prescribing, sometimes referred to as community referral, is a means of enabling GPs, nurses and other primary care professionals 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.
Social prescribing schemes can involve a variety of activities which are typically provided by voluntary and community sector organisations. Examples include volunteering, arts activities, group learning, gardening, befriending, cookery, healthy eating advice and a range of sports.
[UK-BASED ORGANISATION; INFORMATION APPLICABLE WORLDWIDE]