Connecting Communities and Healthcare: Making Social Prescribing Work for Everyone

Introduction

This research explores what we have learned from community and voluntary organisations about social prescribing, a practice that:

• connects healthcare and voluntary sectors

• links people to community-based support as a way of supporting people’s health and wellbeing

The report is aimed at anyone thinking of designing, improving or expanding social prescribing schemes.

Findings 

The research found that social prescribing has the potential to benefit individuals, the voluntary sector and the health system. It can do this by:

• making better use of resources

• giving people greater control of their own wellbeing

Charities and community organisations play a vital role in social prescribing. They run many of the community activities and often provide the link worker function. But it also presents a challenge for resourcing by increasing demand for services.

The research also found that:

• social prescribing is much more than signposting; it works with the patient as an individual, supporting them to overcome barriers to health and wellbeing

• the link worker role is an essential but challenging role; it requires a range of skills, experience and local knowledge

• for social prescribing to flourish, it’s important to support both the link worker role and the delivery of community based services

• social prescribing works best when organisations are willing to work with each other towards shared goals and when funding does not create competition