Social Prescribing Resources – London Plus
Social Prescribing Guidance for your Practice
Social Prescribing Explained
Social Prescribing Approach diagram – London Plus has created this especially for the voluntary sector to help you understand what is involved when you hear the term ‘Social Prescribing’. It breaks down the three key components, from the role of the Social Prescriber to Social Prescribing and Social Prescription. Social Prescribing map – From Transformation Partners in Health and Care, this map details social prescribing services and their contact details across all London boroughs. Alternative Funding – for black and racially minoritised communities (summary document). How Social Prescribing can help you feel well [PDF] – A guide for user-led organisations who want an easy read format for their contacts. Impactful Social Prescribing – this is a presentation template for conversations with your Integrated Care System around social prescribing (need to scroll down the page). North East London Guide for New Social Prescribing Link Workers – North East London Health & Care Partnership. Provider Selection Regime – information on new contracting for health provision, which will provide a framework that allows collaboration with the voluntary sector and ensures decisions can be made in the best interest of patients and service users – 2024. Self assessment development guide – for social prescribing link worker host organisations, from the National Association for Voluntary and Community Action, and the National Academy for Social Prescribing (need to scroll down the page). Social Prescribing in London – A vision for how this can work – Transformation Partners in Health and Care. Social Prescribing Summary guide 2020 – Produced by NHS England to describe how social prescribing should be implemented in practice – NHS England. What is Proactive Social Prescribing? – A video explaining proactive social prescribing.Social Prescribing Monitoring
The Social Prescribing Information Standard – Enables the sharing and recording of information for the whole patient journey, from initial referral, throughout the period of social prescribing and the message back to the referrer and GP at its conclusion – Professional Records Standards Body. Workforce Development Framework – Provides clear, consistent standards for social prescribing link worker practice.Social Prescribing Podcasts/Videos
East Gateshead model in Newcastle – Edberts House. How NHS England works – An overview by the King’s Fund. How the social prescribing model works in Croydon – Croydon Voluntary Action. How social prescribing is being delivered across North Central London – Transformation Partners in Health and Care. National Academy for Social Prescribing (NASP)’s YouTube channel – Sessions from their Social Prescribing Show. National Academy for Social Prescribing – latest evidence 2023 – recording of all the research that has been undertaken What is social prescribing? – An animation by Transformation Partners in Health and Care. What is Social Prescribing? – National Academy for Social Prescribing (NASP) has released a spoken word film explaining what social prescribing is. Podcasts on Prescription – From the National Academy for Social Prescribing. You can access these via the following streaming sites:- Spotify http://spoti.fi/2MMRuXz
- Google Podcasts http://bit.ly/3beywTg
- Amazon Music https://amzn.to/3bh3B8H
- Or search ‘Podcast on Prescription’
Social Prescribing Reports
Evaluations
10 Leaps Forward: Innovation in the pandemic [PDF] – London South Bank University. Arts for Brain Health – Social Prescribing transforming the diagnostic narrative of Dementia – Arts for Dementia Camden Navigation and Social Prescribing Service Report 2021 [PDF] – Voluntary Action Camden & Age UK Camden. Common Outcomes Framework – Describes what outcomes and outputs should be measured to show the impact of social prescribing – NHS England. Connecting communities and healthcare: Making social prescribing work for everyone [PDF] – The National Lottery. Crisis Social Prescribing Interim Impact Report [PDF] – Bromley by Bow Centre. Evaluating Social Prescribing [PDF] – Iriss. Final Report: ELCCG Prescription for Wellbeing [PDF] – Case studies provided by East Lancashire Clinical Commissioning Group’s (ELCCG) Social Prescribing Team. Lessons learned: Supporting the Roma community through Covid-19 [PDF] – Roma Support Group UK. Looking after your mental health during Covid-19 [PDF] – Shropshire Council. Measuring the impact – Measuring impact of social prescribing through coding and outcome measurements (NHS) – Guidance to better understand variation across regions and the impact & benefits of social prescribing through coding. Merton Social Prescribing [PDF] – Merton Connected. Orchid: Oxford RCGP-RSC – Integrated Care System (ICS) level reports for social prescribing, social need and non-medical interventions in primary care for January 2020 – March 2021. There’s reports for each ICS in London: Thriving Communities Fund – Wavehill charts the success of this fund. Rapid Response Social Prescribing – Bromley by Bow Centre outlines their enhanced social prescribing service introduced in 2020. Responding to Covid-19: Interim Report on Innovation [PDF] – Bromley by Bow Centre. Review of the Pilot Digital Group Consultation on Social Prescribing and ‘Recovering from COVID’ – Linthorpe Surgery. Useful resource if you are thinking about running a group virtually. Review of social prescribing and older adults – This report reviews the effect of social prescribing for older adults within primary care. Rolling Out Social Prescribing – National Voices (understanding the experience of the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector). Volunteering in General Practice Report [PDF] – The King’s Fund. Year One of Social Prescribing in Westminster – One Westminster 2021.Research & Studies
Can social prescribing foster individual and community wellbeing? – Department of Government, Faculty of Social Sciences. Case Study Database – The NHSE Social Prescribing team (account needed). Food growing on social prescription – Sustain. Humanising Healthcare [PDF] – Dr Margaret Hannah. Integrating additional roles into primary care networks – The King’s Fund’s report focuses on four roles including social prescribing link workers. Intervention Components of Link Worker Social Prescribing Programmes – Identifies and categorises the components of link worker social prescribing schemes in the UK.- Wiley Online Library Link Worker Perspectives on Service Delivery – Explores social prescribing service provision in England’s NHS – Scientific Research Publishing My role in Tackling Health Inequalities – A framework for Allied Health Professionals – The King’s Fund. NASP Evidence Review – Social prescribing can reduce pressure on Primary Care, including GPs, and save costs – National Academy for Social Prescribing Personalised Care in Secondary Care – a series of case studies from Transformation Partners in Health and Care. Changing lives, changing places, changing systems – Making progress on social prescribing – National Voices. Rapid Evidence Review: Inequalities in relation to Covid-19 & their effects on London [PDF] – The University of Manchester, University of Sussex & The Ubele Initiative. Reimagining Social Prescribing – This report was written by the Ubele Initiative in collaboration with London Plus, and looks at perspectives from Black and Racially Minoritised Communities. The role of Patient Participation Groups in Social Prescribing – National Association of Link workers and the National Association for Patient Participation. Thrive Report: Keeping Londoners Well [PDF] – Thrive LDN. Unravelling the potential of social prescribing in individual-level type 2 diabetes prevention – National Centre for Biotechnology Information.Social Prescribing – Strategy
Enabling the potential of social prescribing [PDF] – The Conservation Volunteers. Health Inequalities Strategy – One year on, and the Implementation Plan 2021-24 – Greater London Authority Next Steps for Social Prescribing in London [PDF] – The Greater London Authority & Transformation Partners in Health and Care. Social Prescribing: Healthy London Partnership’s Vision for 2018 – 2028 [PDF] – Healthy London Partnership (Now Transformation Partners in Health and Care). Supporting Digital Inclusion – this guide seeks to reduce digital exclusion in general practice. The Asset-based Health Inquiry: How Best to Develop Social Prescribing [PDF] – London South Bank University. The London Health Inequalities Strategy [PDF] – Mayor of London.Social Prescribing Training
Future Learn – If you have an NHS address you can receive some paid training for free. NHSE Social Prescribing Webinars – Use the link to sign up on the Futures Collaboration Board to access this. NHS England webinars – A variety of topics are covered that relate to social prescribing. Oliver McGowan Learning Disabilities Training – This training on how to support people with learning disabilities and autism is now mandated for all health professionals. Peer learning recordings – Regarding social prescribing topics and areas of interest – Transformation Partners in Health and Care. Social Prescribing Qualification – A social prescribing qualification, accredited by the Personalised Care Institute. Social prescribing link worker e-learning modules – There are nine modules in total, with others in development. You can access all nine modules, including supervision, at no charge: via social prescribing elearning programme. You must create an e-lfh account to complete the modules.Cost of Living
Cost of Living Hub – From Directory of Social Change, full of useful information. Cost of Living Payments – Understanding Universal Credit from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Energy Advice London – A useful leaflet that gives tips on how to save on energy. Call 08081 968260 or visit energyadvice.london. Help for Households campaign – A government initiative which aims to help people access the government schemes available that support households during the cost of living crisis. There is also a toolkit for stakeholders. Seasonal Health Intervention Network (SHINE) – Fuel poverty referral network, also offering free energy advice for Londoners. Support in London – Cost of Living Crisis – Document from London Plus that signposts local organisations in London that offer support to those affected by the rising cost of living. The Mayor’s Cost of Living Hub – Aims to help Londoners facing financial hardship. It provides information about claiming benefits, debt, financial management and mental health. Warmer Homes Scheme – Offers heating, insulation, and ventilation improvements to Londoners.Digital Platforms & Data for Social Prescribing
Connected Together platform – From the NHS, helps give citizens and link workers a ‘one stop’ access to advice, inspiration and support. Find out how to list your service here. Interactive map – Lets you explore Census 2021 data across England – Office of National Statistics My Planned Care Patient Digital Platform – Provides people waiting for a hospital appointment, operation or treatment (excluding cancer) direct access to the latest wait-time information and support for all acute trusts across England – NHS Personalised Care prescribing.social – A resource for Voluntary/Community Social Enterprise (VCSE) organisations to upload information about their organisation and services, and for primary care staff in GP practices to have one place where they can find information on the different social prescription providers in their area. Royal College of GPs (RCGP) & University of Oxford’s Social Prescribing Observatory – Shows data of NHS regions and each Integrated Care System (ICS). GP practices have access to a local dashboard if they’re taking part in the Research and Surveillance Centre. Social Prescribing Collaboration Platform – A network for news, resources and discussion. Email england.socialprescribing@nhs.net to join. Social Prescribing Collaboration Platform Guide – For Link Workers – A guide to joining FutureNHS, an online space for Link Workers working with Primary Care Networks to access key documents and updates about Social Prescribing to support you in your role – FutureNHS. The Social Prescribing Network’s grey literature database – Will be updated each month with any reports, guides, or evaluations that they can find relating to social prescribing.Green Social Prescribing
Community Garden resource sheet – from Capital Growth. This makes it easier for community gardens in London to assess whether social prescribing is appropriate. Current capacity of green social prescribing – A report from the Department for Health and Social Care. Exploring perceptions of green social prescribing among clinicians and the public – From the Department of Health and Social Care. Feel Good in the Forest – A programme of activities for anyone looking to improve their health and wellbeing. People can self-refer or be referred by a link worker, community group, support organisation/worker or health professional. See the presentation to find out more, and share information using this flyer. Green Social Prescribing Toolkit – from the National Academy for Social Prescribing Health and Wellbeing Opportunity Mapping – from Riddles River Trust, this has useful health, wellbeing and access datasets. National green social prescribing delivery capacity assessment – From the Department of Health and Social Care. Natural England Film – Natural England have produced a new film about the benefits of green social prescribing for health and wellbeing. The film follows Roots4Life, a project in Greenwich. Nature on Prescription – European Centre for Environment and Human Health. A handbook for green social prescribing interventions. Perceptions of green social prescribing – Specifically amongst clinicians and the public, from the Department of Health and Social Care. Therapeutic Community Gardening for Mental Health – This study looks into the potential of gardening as a green social prescription for mental health.Guides & Advice for Link Workers
Arts
Arts and Culture: Social Prescribing Myth Buster – Download a free guide to dispel myths about social prescribing in the arts and cultural sector. Music for Dementia: Two Social Prescription Guides for Link Workers – Incorporate music-based activities into care and support for a person living with dementia. Prescribe Arts Toolkit – An online resource that enabled social prescribers and the public to find quality arts programmes making a difference to health and wellbeing. Singing for Health Network – Guides for Social Prescribing to Choirs and Singing Groups. Created with partners across the arts and health sectors, the resources are designed to support successful referrals to choirs and include questionnaires to help Social Prescribers and singing group leaders get the right procedures in place. Template for telephone assessments (Bromley by Bow Centre) – A structured template useful for carrying out telephone assessments with people. TLAP (think local act personal) – Has a set of good resources for personalised care. Webinar for New Social Prescribing Link Workers – An NHS webinar to help you understand more about the link worker role, identify what you need to measure and record, including outcome measurement tools and how primary care networks work.Best Practice
All Our Health – From the Office for Health Improvement & Disparities (OHID) aims to help health professionals provide better access to health & care, and promote wellbeing as part of their everyday practice. Helen Sanderson Associates – A good resource for developing conversations and finding out what is important to someone. Information for referrals to NHS Volunteer Responders – This information from the NHS is for health professionals, local authorities, charities and social care professionals that can refer into the programme. Looking after yourself – For social prescribing link workers. Lone working advice – And personal safety – (Suzy Lamplugh Trust). Population Health animation – The Kings Fund. They have also produced other documents around this topic including outlining the vision for population health and what improvement could look like. Population Health Management – NHS England. An explanation of what this looks like in practice and a video of a patient’s perspective. Social prescribing—let’s not leap in without the evidence – An article by a London GP discusses social prescribing. Social Prescribing London Reference Library – Background reading linked to social prescribing for new link workers – Healthy London Partnership (Now Transformation Partners in Health and Care). Social Prescribing Toolkit – NHS Property Services toolkit with guides on writing funding applications, setting up a site, promoting services, and includes editable templates for case studies. Everyday Interactions Measuring Impact Toolkit – Provides a straightforward and easy way for health care professionals to record and measure their public health impact. The Social Prescribing Standard – By the Professional Record Standards Body will enable the sharing and recording of information for the whole patient journey of social prescribing.Cultural Support & Migrant Communities (please also have a look at our Translation Services section for further support)
Afghan Refugee support – For mental health and wellbeing – Thrive London. Carers Guide – Many Black, Asian and minority ethnic unpaid carers don’t recognise themselves as carers; and some languages lack a distinct word for ‘carer’. The Race Equality Foundation helped produce this good practice guide along with Carers UK on how to offer inclusive support. Employment Rights Hub – From the Greater London Authority, for information about different employment rights plus details of what to do if people are having trouble at work – translated into 20 languages. HostNation – A befriending project connecting socially isolated or lonely asylum seekers and refugees with local volunteers who help them explore their neighbourhood, take part in London life, practise their English and feel more welcome here. Intersectionality in Practice animation (Mary Martins) – Explains intersectionality in clear terms and outlines the five applied concepts of intersectionality which you can use in your work. Keeping Control – For those who have experienced abuse, victimisation or hate crime due to their mental distress or mental health diagnosis. There are Indonesian, Tagalog (Filipino), Vietnamese, Arabic, Bengali, English, Gujarati, & Urdu translations and easy read English versions available. Language Line – Provides a wide range of interpreting, translation and localisation agency services. London in your language – A website available in English and Farsi to help improve health awareness and access to healthcare for migrant and refugee Londoners. It includes videos presented by GP specialists on important health topics available with subtitles in various languages. Migrant Health information for Link Workers – (Greater London Authority) Learn the rights migrants have to NHS support. Migrant Londoners Hub – An online resource to help those newly arrived to navigate the city, and support Londoners with immigration needs with information about their rights. Migrants Rights Network’s Know Your Rights (KYR) Guide – Provides information on getting mental health support. For more information contact Katia at k.widlak@migrantsrights.org.uk. Migrant Women’s Rights Service – A confidential advice service run by Maternity Action for those working with vulnerable migrant women and providing advice for pregnant or new mothers. There’s also advice on housing, support options and access to NHS maternity care. Tel: 020 7251 6189. The helpline is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday between 10am-12pm and 2–4pm. Solace – Has a translation service for refugees and migrants experiencing poor mental health. Supporting Migrants Access to Health care toolkit – Doctors of the World. This toolkit, with input from social prescribing link workers and migrants, gives practical steps and information to recognise and address healthcare barriers. Support the mental health & wellbeing of displaced Ukrainians – A guide from Thrive LDN to help families create a safe and welcoming environment. Thrive LDN and Refugee Council’s short video – For volunteers and professionals on how to engage with refugees and asylum seekers, particularly in relation to supporting mental health and wellbeing. Translated Health Information Hub – Has various translated health information resources. You can use the filters on the left-hand side to search the document by language, or by topic. UKHSA have a guide for health professionals – On how to meet the health needs of arrivals from Ukraine. Working supportively with refugees – Future Learn.Health Inequalities
Core20PLUS5 – This is an NHS England approach to inform action to reduce healthcare inequalities at both national and system level. Fairhealth – An online resource offering free courses, eLearning and blogs to help reduce inequalities. Health Inequalities: FrameWorks guidance – Explore ways of discussing health inequalities to those who aren’t in our sector. Health inequalities in a nutshell – The King’s Fund. This article describes what health inequalities are and the role social prescribing has to tackle them. Health Literacy – This health literacy page from the NHS acts as a content style guide for those talking about health, aiming to help those with poor health literacy better understand medical content. What are Health Inequalities – The King’s Fund.Menopause
sister2sisterbu is a Menopause and Wellbeing support group. They run local face to face meetings and activities too. sister2sisterbu@gmail.com.Mental Health
Conversation Starter Tool from Thrive LDN – This tool gives guidance on how to open up conversations about mental health with your friends, family, and community. Faith-Focused Mental Health – Good Thinking has a range of faith-focused mental health resources. Mental Health First Aid – A free course to help support you in your work with people who are distressed. MARCH Network Plus – Best practice guidelines for organisations offering heritage projects as interventions for people who live with mental health issues. Talking Faith in Suicide Prevention – From Faith Action, this aims to upskill frontline workers to engage in conversations around suicide prevention. The Covid-19 Forecast Modelling toolkit – Centre for Mental Health forecasts the predicted increase in mental health conditions post-pandemic. This may be useful to help target support for particular demographics in your community.Money and Advice Support
Benefits Information – See the different benefits clients who you work with may be entitled to. Benefits Overview – See where to apply for different types of benefits. British Gas Energy Trust – Those struggling with bills can come here for advice and to apply for grants. Citizens Advice – Offers a range of advice and support. Debt Helpline – The Mayor of London is funding a 24/hour debt advice helpline for Londoners. Digital tool for Universal Credit Users – An easy to use tool for organisations who work with those trying to claim Universal Credit.. Disability Grants – Charitable Funding for the Disabled (disability-grants.org) – Helps you to support someone to find the right grant both nationally and locally. entitledto – benefits advice service – Can give benefits advice to your clients, and also produces a yearly analysis of how many benefits go unclaimed each year. Help to Claim – A Citizens Advice Service which provides free and impartial advice to people to make their Universal Credit claim online. How to Apply for a PIP (Personal Independent Payment) – A simple guide to help someone apply for a personal independent payment. Money Advice Service – Can provide free money advice support online and over the phone. Money A+E – Offers money advice to disadvantaged groups. Money and Pensions Service – have a range of guidance to help with money during the cost of living crisis. Money Talk Toolkit – guidance and training to equip health and care professionals to identify, understand, support and refer for money-related health issues. The Hospital Saturday Fund – Will consider giving partial or full grants to individuals for areas including specialised mobility equipment, physio, speech therapy, home adaptations, and respite breaks. The Mayor of London’s Cost of Living Hub – Has information, support and advice about claiming benefits, dealing with debt, financial management and mental health support. If you have feedback, please contact Lizzie.Mahoney@london.gov.uk. Which? can help you find accessible banking – For those who vulnerable or have a disability. WorkRights is an automated legal service – Checks eligibility for reasonable adjustments as a Disabled person – Disability Law Action.NHS and its Structures Explained
Adult Not Brought Strategy – A code has been rolled out into clinical systems called ‘adult not brought to appointment‘ for adults who could not attend because they did not have the capacity or capability to attend. Health and care jargon buster – The King’s Fund. Aims to clarify some of the concepts and terms that are frequently used in health and care policy. Health and Care Bill – Six Key Questions – The Kings Fund. Aims to answer some of the key things that have come up since the Bill was published in July 2021. Integrated care communications toolkit – NHS Confederation’s toolkit aims to help communicate the changes in the health & care system to the public, including ICSs and jargon. Integrated care systems explained: making sense of the new NHS structure – NHS Providers have produced a glossary of terms to navigate evolving terminology. Integrated Care Systems diagram – The Kings Fund has produced a very helpful breakdown and a diagram on how Integrated Care Systems will work going forwards. Personal Health Budgets – The NHS have resources to help you understand more about personal health budgets; i.e. money to support a person’s health and wellbeing needs. Place-Based Partnerships – The Kings Fund explains place-based partnerships (arrangements between organisations responsible for arranging and delivering health and care services). What are Integrated Health Systems (ICSs)? – NHS England. What are Primary Care Networks (PCNs)? – British Medical Association (BMA). Integrated Care System explained – North West London (ICS).Older Adults
Active Ageing – Sport England has produced a guide summarising actions you can take to help older adults become more active. Herbert’s Protocol – Used to collate key information related to individuals who are living with dementia – should they go missing, or wander, this pre-collated information could be of use to help find them quickly if you are supporting any carers as part of your work. Guide to social prescribing and musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions – Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Alliance (ARMA)’s guide is aimed at link workers without a specific MSK service or background. Making Friends – Connect Hackney have produced a useful infographic with suggested ways of older adults making friends.Covid-19 Support
COVID-19 Migrant Information Service – (International Organisation for Migration) provides multilingual information on COVID-19 measures & support, available in 5 languages: English, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic and Romanian. It relates to health, employment, benefits, housing, immigration.Covid-19 Translated Resources
The GLA’s social integration team and Doctors of the World have translated key Covid-19 guidance & social media assets into 15 priority languages, so that vital information reaches key communities. This includes:- Infographics and videos on social media. Access info here: Google drive It includes: Vietnamese, Cantonese, Turkish, Bengali, Kurdish, Romanian, Spanish, Portuguese, Bulgarian, Polish, Urdu, Punjabi (Pakistan), Punjabi (India), Gujarati and Yiddish languages.
- Translated audio guidance by Doctors of the World.
- The GLA website with further translated information by Doctors of the World.
- GLA Employment Rights Hub for information about different employment rights plus details of what to do if people are having trouble at work – translated into 20 languages.
- Further resources created by London Councils including information on Test and Trace.
