Social Prescribing: A collaborative way to improve outcomes for patients
Social prescribing is all about taking a holistic approach to wellbeing and working with patients proactively to encourage health improvements. But how does it work in practice, and what does that mean for local communities?
Social Prescribing at-a-glance
Social Prescribers work collaboratively with patients to identify concerns, explore support options, and connect with services, groups, and community resources. Typically, social prescribing link workers guide people through various challenges which could include:
- Emotional challenges, such as bereavement and accessing low level mental health support
- Social support needs (isolation/loneliness, finances, employment and housing)
- Practical care needs (accessing care and support for unpaid carers)
The aim is to improve people’s wellbeing by empowering them to take ownership of their situation and make connections with other people.
Referrals come from GPs, healthcare professionals, reception teams, or even self-referrals. Our team provides up to six sessions, either via phone, in-practice, or home visits, ensuring accessible and tailored support.
Case study: The Power of Community Connections in Kenilworth and Warwick PCN
An essential part of the social prescribing team’s role in Kenilworth and Warwick is building relationships with local services and groups. By understanding their offerings and reducing barriers to access, we help patients engage with the right support. Warm introductions – where we provide key details about a group and even accompany patients to their first session – make all the difference.
Our team also works proactively with community organisers, helping new groups establish themselves, addressing accessibility challenges, and keeping up to date with local schemes, funding opportunities, and social support services.
This work means the team can plug gaps in community provision and provide projects to support our patient population. Recent examples include:
- Providing a vital liaison service, especially for more vulnerable patients, following a change in the provision of non-statutory housing advice and support for people who are homeless or facing homelessness locally.
- Setting up ‘Dementia Information Events’ within community venues so family members and carers could ask questions about dementia and their caring responsibilities and meet local providers of dementia support.
- Running ‘drop ins’ at local community hubs to increase people’s awareness of our social prescribing service to encourage self-referrals and connect with individuals who may not ordinarily visit their GP practice.
Did you know? The social prescribing team at Kenilworth and Warwick PCN has supported 659 patients with 4,566 interactions since April 2024 – and referrals continue to grow!
What Patients Say
Patient feedback highlights the value of social prescribing:
“Having a listening ear and feeling that someone had my back was a huge support. Additionally, the practical help secured by the practitioner was invaluable.”
“I found this process really helpful as practical and emotional support and would highly recommend it.”
“The support I received was very helpful, I was given some useful ideas and groups to join in and around my area.”
By fostering connections and empowering individuals, social prescribers play a crucial role in improving well-being, not just for patients, but for the communities they engage with.