Social Prescribing Information Sheet for Local Carer Organisations
DOWNLOAD THE Social Prescribing Information Sheet for Local Carer Organisations
This document has been co-designed by Carers Trust and Carers UK, local carer support organisations, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and NHS England.
It is a short guide for anyone working at a local carer support organisation and explains what social prescribing is, how it can help unpaid carers, and how you can get involved in social prescribing projects.
The short guide:
- Provides an overview of what Social Prescribing is
- Explains how it can help unpaid carers
- Sets out how local carer organisations can get involved
- Highlights good practice in social prescribing for unpaid
- Links organisations to other helpful resources
Carers Trust worked with DHSC, NHS England, Carers UK, and two local carer support organisations – Sunderland Carers and Sefton Carers – to develop the information resource.
Social Prescribing connects people to practical, social and emotional community support, through Social Prescribing link workers, who are based in GP practices and the VCSE and take referrals from all local agencies. It helps people get more control over their healthcare, to manage their needs and in a way that suits them. It can especially help people who:
- have one or more long-term conditions.
- need support with their mental health.
- are lonely or isolated.
- have complex social needs which affect their wellbeing.
Social Prescribing links people to a range of activities that are typically provided by voluntary and community sector organisations, for example, volunteering, art activities, group learning, gardening, befriending, cookery, healthy eating advice and a range of sports.
The Guide is aimed at organisations that may not yet be involved in Social Prescribing in the local area. It aims to increase awareness and knowledge of social prescribing amongst local carer support organisations so as to enable them to get involved and support unpaid carers to benefit from Social Prescribing.
The information sheet followed a Health and Wellbeing Alliance project focusing on carers accessing Social Prescribing.
If you have any questions, please contact the Carers Trust Policy Team.