Social Prescribing

Social prescribing – the connection of people to communities, services and activities to meet their practical, social and emotional needs – has become an increasingly important element of healthcare policy. As debate intensifies over an appropriate national model, this new book provides the first comprehensive overview of the entire concept of social prescribing.

Social Prescribing pulls together arguments, evidence and resources to define social prescribing and analyze how it can change lives. It considers a range of paradigms for improving health and wellbeing through social approaches, and provides real-life examples of where the theory has been realized in practice.

The book is well-balanced and easy to understand, making it ideal for healthcare practitioners, researchers and policy makers who are interested in exploring the potential of social prescribing for improving health and wellbeing.

Editor Heather Henry is former chair of New NHS Alliance (now The Health Creation Alliance CIC), which influences national health strategy and policy on health inequalities and wellbeing. Her NHS career in primary care as both a practising Queen's Nurse and NHS director, combined with her experience of the voluntary community and social enterprise sector, ideally qualifies her to curate and interpret a wide range of contributions from household names to seldom-heard voices.

Cover image
Title page
Copyright
Contents
Foreword
Contributors
Acknowledgements
Prologue
Section 1 Setting the Scene
CHAPTER 1 Introduction
Controversy
Social Prescribing for What?
The Bigger Picture
Public Perception
Paradigms, Perspectives and Practice
Limitations
References
CHAPTER 2 Social Prescribing—Where Did It Come From and Where Is It Going?
Introduction
The Peckham Experiment
Bromley by Bow Centre
Perceiving the Role of General Practice Differently
The Language of ‘Social Prescription’
The Social Prescribing Network
A Changing Focus
Link Worker Development
Health, Hope and Happiness
Criticisms
A Capacity Challenge
Reconnecting Public Services With Their Communities
A Global Alliance
Conclusion
References
CHAPTER 3 What Is Wellbeing and What Keeps Us Well?
Introduction
What Do We Mean by Wellbeing?
What Do We Know About What Makes People Well?
Summary
Further What Works Wellbeing Resources
References
CHAPTER 4 History of Social Prescribing
Introduction
History
The Universal Model of Personalised Care
Shared Decision-Making
Choice of Provider and Services
Personalised Care and Support Planning
Personal Health Budgets
Supported Self-Management
Social Prescribing
Concept and Terminology Debate
The Link Worker Role
The ‘Ecosystem’ of Social Prescribing
The National Academy for Social Prescribing
The Future of Social Prescribing
Conclusion
References
CHAPTER 5 The Link to Health Equity
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References
CHAPTER 6 Does Social Prescribing ‘Work’?
Introduction
Social Prescribing as an Architecture, Not an Intervention
Evidence That the Prescribed Activities Work
The Impact of Social Prescribing on a Person
Using Social Prescribing Link Workers to Identify Support Needs
Changes in Outcomes for People Before and After Social Prescribing
Economics and Service Usage Implications
Conclusion
References
CHAPTER 7 Summary Section 1 Setting the Scene
Resources
References
Section 2 Paradigms
CHAPTER 8 Personalised Care
Introduction
The Current Paradigm Underpinning Social Prescribing
A Revolution
Systems Leadership
A Coalition for Change
Workforce Development
Trust and Relationships
Bringing the Assets Together
Innovation
Power Shifting
Technology
Mental Health
Conclusion
References
CHAPTER 9 Going Upstream: Community Power and the Community Paradigm
Introduction
Paradigms Over Time
Social Prescribing
What Really Matters to People?
How Might Things Be Different?
What Would Be Different for Communities?
What Would Be Different for Individuals?
Key Principles
System Change (‘The What’)
Co-Production With Local People and Communities (‘The How’)
Conclusion
References
CHAPTER 10 Interview With Lord Gus O’Donnell
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References
CHAPTER 11 Primary Care, Health Creation and the Role of Social Prescribing
Introduction
What Makes People and Communities Well?
Control Shift: A Tale of Two Paradigms
A Framework to Support A Transformation to Health Creation
Social Prescribing Can Be Health Creating
A Big Problem Needs a Wholesale Solution
Health Creation Offers a Route to Whole-System Change
Conclusion
References
CHAPTER 12 Relational Welfare
Introduction
What Is Relational Welfare?
The ‘Factory’ Model
‘Factory’ Updates
Over-Medicalisation
The ‘Pivot’
The Proximity Gap
Inequality
A Consumerist Model
Framing the Wellbeing Conversation
The Central Role of Relationships
Lessons in Life Satisfaction
Resources
Steps to ‘Life’
Capabilities
Interpretation for Social Prescribing
Conclusion
References
CHAPTER 13 Summary Section 2 Paradigms
Commonalities
The Economic View
Behavioural Science
An Enabling State
Communicating Paradigms
Emerging Themes
Progress
Framing
Tipping Point
Human Learning Systems
Lenses to Analyse Perspectives
References
Section 3 Perspectives
CHAPTER 14 Social Prescribing With Children & Young People
Introduction
Complex Challenges
‘No Wrong Door’
Integration and Collaboration
Social Prescribing Youth Network
The Critical Role of the Youth Link Worker
Inequalities in Provision
Locally Trusted Organisations (LTOs)
Youth Link Worker (YLW)
Referral Pathway
Conclusion
References
CHAPTER 15 An Ethnographic View of General Practice
Introduction
The Primary Care Context
Social Prescribing in Practice: Referral and Engagement
Understanding Social Prescribing Over Time: Feedback and Collaborative Working
Attributing Value to Social Prescribing Over Time
Conclusion and Reflections
References
CHAPTER 16 Social Prescribing: A Panacea or Another Top-Down Programme?
Introduction
Consensual Human Exchange
The Ethical Role of the Doctor
The Role of Gapper
The Problem With the Term Social Prescribing
Freirean Critique of Prescription
The Problem With Prescription Referrals
Challenging Dominant Narratives
A Village Problem, Not a Health Problem
Making the Case for a Community-Building Approach
The Creation of a Culture of Care
Conclusion
References
CHAPTER 17 The NHS Foundation Trust as Catalyst for Change
Introduction
Our Journey
An Anchor Institution for Community Development
Altogether Better
Creative Minds
Spirit in Mind
Community Reporting, Research and Evaluation
Systematising Creative Wellbeing
Conclusion
References
CHAPTER 18 The View From the VCSE Sector
Introduction
Connector Services
Development
VCSE Capabilities and Flexibilities
Social Prescribing and the NHS
Challenges
Funding
Galvanising Wider Action
Opportunities for Collaboration
Engaging Beyond Health
Hearts and Minds
Conclusion
References
CHAPTER 19 Workforce Transformation
Introduction
Preparing the Workforce: Changing the Dialogue
Student (Learner) Feedback
Organisation Feedback
Discussion
Conclusion
References
CHAPTER 20 Summary Section 3 Perspectives
Top Down, Bottom up and Co-produced
Co-ordination
Workforce Development
Resources
Community-Enhanced Social Prescribing
‘Connected Communities’ Model
Connecting People Model
From Perspectives to Practice
References
Section 4 Practice
CHAPTER 21 Connecting Community
Introduction
Community, Faith, History and Values
Professional Aspiration
Art as Healing
Alienation
Social Prescribing
Seeing the Benefit Is Its Own Reward
Conclusion
CHAPTER 22 The DeStress-II Project: Enhancing Primary Care Responses to Poverty-Related Mental Distress
Introduction
Context of the DeStress-II Study
Methodology
Findings
Conclusion
References
CHAPTER 23 Learning From Buurtzorg in Community Nursing Services
Introduction
How My Mum Put Me on the Road to Buurtzorg
Why Successive Governments Have Failed to ‘Fix’ Social Care
Buurtzorg—Back to the Future
Bringing Buurtzorg to Britain
Conclusion
Reference
CHAPTER 24 The Contribution of Allied Health Professionals
Introduction
Introducing the Allied Health Professionals
Why Allied Health Professions Are Interested in Social Prescribing
Barriers to the Use of Social Prescribing by AHPs
How Do Allied Health Professionals Engage in Social Prescribing?
Further Developments
Conclusion
References
CHAPTER 25 The Role of Urgent and Emergency Services
Introduction
Introduction
Frequent Attenders: Why and How?
Listening
Responding
Who Are the Client Group?
HIU Role Essentials
Conclusion
Reference
Introduction
Prevention
Causes of the Causes
Challenges
Conclusion
References
Introduction
The Road to Prevention
The Person-Centred Approach
Nottinghamshire Fire Service Working With Occupational Therapists
Conclusion
References
CHAPTER 26 Housing, Health and Wellbeing: Perfect Partners
Introduction
Housing Demand
Greater Manchester Housing Providers
More Than Just a Roof
Bolton—a Case in Point
Susan
Bernadette the Peer Navigator
Men in Sheds
Outcomes
Conclusion
Resources
References
CHAPTER 27 Building Hope for a Better Future Fleetwood: A Small Town With a Big Heart
Introduction
Why?
What’s Hope Got To Do With It?
Listen With an Open Mind, an Open Heart and an Open Will
Connecting Our Community
So, What’s All This Got To Do With Social Prescribing?
Professional Wellbeing
Conclusion
Resources
References
CHAPTER 28 London’s Commitment to Social Prescribing
Introduction
Case Studies
London’s Commitment to Social Prescribing
Unlocking Progress in London
Five Principles
A Regional Approach to a National Plan
Supporting the Voluntary and Community Sector
Taking a ‘Health in All Policies’ Approach
Conclusion
References
CHAPTER 29 Summary Section 4 Practice
Models of Social Prescribing
A Continuum of Support
Interpretations of Social Prescribing in Practice
Community Nursing
Allied Health Professionals
Local Authorities and Social Work
Political Mayors
Wider Determinants of Health
Good and Bad Help
Self-Managing Teams
Kindness
Compassionate Communities
Cultural Competency
Pressures on the VCSE Sector
Summary
References
CHAPTER 30 Conclusion
Solving the Right Problem
From Sickness to Wellbeing
Does It Work?
Resources
Economics
Health Inequalities
Power and Culture
Systems Leadership
Communication
Beliefs and Behaviours
Workforce Development
Final Words: Cherish Humanity
References
Glossary
Index

Life Sciences

Physical Sciences & Engineering

Social Sciences & Humanities

Health

Social Prescribing

Paradigms, Perspectives and Practice

Purchase options

Institutional subscription on ScienceDirect

Heather Henry