Social prescribers help build connections in community to improve wellbeing

With the weather being colder and the evenings darker, the amount of time spent indoors at this time of year inevitably increases.

For some people, the winter months can bring a reduction in social activity too which can create feelings of loneliness and low mood.

Social prescribers are on hand to help support people to improve their health and wellbeing.

GPs and healthcare staff can refer patients who may be struggling with anxiety, low mood, grief, loneliness or financial worries, to the social prescribing team.

Pictured: Elizabeth Samways, dentist at Penclawdd Dental Practice, and Lois Woodward, social prescribing co-ordinator for SCVS.

Run by Swansea Council for Voluntary Service (SCVS), and Neath Port Talbot Council for Voluntary Service (NPTCVS) in partnership with the Local Cluster Collaboratives (LCCs), the social prescribers can offer and signpost people to appropriate support for their individual needs.

Llwchwr LCC has recently introduced a new project which will allow allied health professionals, such as dentists and community pharmacists, to make referrals, too.

Lois Woodward, a social prescribing co-ordinator for SCVS, said: “We offer very personalised support to the individual. If some people need support with housing or finance, we can signpost them to the right services.

“It could also be supporting people with social connections or building self-esteem through engaging in activities in the community, such as walking groups, Men’s Sheds and other fitness and outdoor activities.

“We also offer more emotional support too, which could be for people who have been through a trauma, life change or a bereavement and might need linking up with support groups.”

Once the patient has been referred, the social prescribers make initial contact to direct them to support that might be relevant to them at that stage.

They then make a follow-up phone call to check how the patients are, to see if they have contacted any of the suggested services and if any further support is needed.

Carys Richards, principal officer for health, social care and wellbeing at NPTCVS, said: “Social prescribing takes a holistic approach to improving health and wellbeing by connecting people to groups, activities and services within their communities.

“We have seen some really positive outcomes for people who have engaged with the service.

“Social prescribers can dedicate the time needed to build trusting relationships with people and focus on what really matters to them. This is key to its success.”

During the winter months, Lois explained that there is an increased need for support to help those who may be isolated.

“We see an increase in the need to support the housebound, elderly population,” she said.

“Befriending services become very important, especially for housebound people.

“We have access to a telephone befriending service, run through SCVS, and there are a lot of similar external services too, such as Re-engage.

“We can also direct people to schemes such as Warm Wales, which can help to check if people are eligible for new heating systems.

“During the winter, it’s also important to remind people to check in on neighbours as well.”

The service can help to alleviate some of the pressure on GPs who are able to refer to the social prescribers directly.

Llwchwr LCC has funded a new pilot project which will see the service expanded so more healthcare professionals can make referrals.

The cluster covers the Pontarddulais, Gorseinon, Gowerton and Penclawdd areas of Swansea.

Lois added: “The LCC has funded the expansion of the social prescribing service into allied health professionals.

“We will start off with staff from optometry, dentistry and community pharmacy and will also look at occupational therapists and physiotherapists too.

“We want to see how these staff members may be able to make referrals into our service for people that come into their practices, who may have some wellbeing needs.”

Lois urged people who may be feeling low or isolated to ask for help as she explained there are lots of organisations and services available.

“It’s important to reach out and just see what’s out there because there are a wealth of services available,” she said.

“Sometimes what you need can be just down the road but people aren’t aware it’s there.

“The social prescribing service has access to all of the databases and information for services that are available.

“If you are speaking to your GP about low mood, anxiety, grief, loneliness or financial worries; the social prescribing service may be able to offer you additional support.”

Dr Sowndarya Shivaraj, Llwchwr LCC lead, said: “Social prescribing can improve health and wellbeing and can help people feel more connected to their community.

“It can help reduce loneliness, improve social connection and help people learn new skills or participate in new activities.

“In Llwchwr Cluster, we have extended the social prescribing service to include allied health care professionals and encourage these professionals to identify patients who could benefit from social prescribing and make referrals to ensure the service is utilised to its fullest potential.”