What is social prescribing?
Social prescribing is an NHS model that helps connect you with the community to manage your health and wellbeing. There are lots of people, activities, groups and services in the community that can help meet your needs. For example, volunteering roles, cooking classes, sports and more.
Getting a social prescribing link worker
Bridge View Medical have teamed up with Community Webs social prescribing service. This is a free social prescribing service which aims to signpost patients to local services and support for a variety of needs including:
- Abuse
- Access to transport
- Bereavement
- Benefit/money and housing issues
- Carer support
- Digital exclusion (help to use IT/ internet/ read etc)
- Employment support
- Food support
- Homelessness
- Lifestyle problems (for example, diet and exercise)
- Loneliness/ isolation
- Low mood/low confidence/mild anxiety and depression
- Parenting
- Practical support
Any persons over 18 years old can be referred to the service either as a self-referral or through the GP practice.
A link worker from community webs will get in touch to book an initial appointment with you. These are held at various venues across the BS3 area.
During the first appointment, your link worker will engage in a guided conversation to establish your needs/wants/barriers. Using a person-centre approach you will have the opportunity to discuss what’s going on currently and any barriers you may have with regard to being able to access or engage in community activities. You will set goals that you wish to use the service to achieve.
Possible outcomes include:
- Local befriending services
- Signposting to creative groups and activities
- Volunteering opportunities
- Housing benefits, financial support and advice services
- Support to access employment and training opportunities
- Counselling services
Referrals can be made via your GP practice.
You can also self-refer by filling in a referral form and emailing it to celia.phipps@nhs.net