Jo Gascoigne joined us at our last meeting and gave a talk on her work as a Social Prescriber.
This is a new resource available to Inspire Health patients and it seems obvious that it will be much needed over the coming year. Jo did emphasise that this care can much improve people’s mental health and help prevent people spiralling down into serious health difficulties.
We will be keeping in touch with Jo and maintaining an important relationship.
Social Prescribing Link Workers
Under the umbrella of the primary Care Network, we work together as a team of 9 Social Prescribing Link Workers who support GP surgeries throughout Chesterfield & Dronfield.
I work alongside Inspire & RPC West.
As Link Workers, we can offer 8, 30-40 mins sessions either face to face or over the telephone. We spend time talking with patients, getting to know them and building a relationship with them which enables us to have an understanding of what is important to each patient and how they can be supported to make positive changes to improve their health and wellbeing.
We support patients in improving their self-esteem and confidence, assist in setting goals and an action plan and link them to services which are going to improve their wellbeing.
For example - Community activities (i.e. men in sheds/knit & natter), Healthier Lifestyle Services (gym/weight management referrals), Financial Services, Mental Health support/peer groups, voluntary work and much more.
Our aim is to empower people to take control of their own health and wellbeing.
We can attend a group or community activity to offer support to a patient.
We also undertake Sexual health preventative work and explore the wider issues people are facing and why these things may be happening. We support patients around making good decisions around their sexual health.
Referrals are received from GPs and other health professionals (OT, Nurses etc) with the patient's consent. We also receive self-referrals.
Once a referral is received, the patient is contacted and informed we have the referral and they are on a waiting list with an approximate time when they will be contacted to arrange an appointment.
Case Study Mr A
Male, 57 YO, sole carer for elderly parents. Diagnosed with autism 2 years ago. Has worked in the past however did struggle, now unable to work due to autism. Has also been a volunteer.
Time given to enable Mr A to talk about his personal circumstances and challenges at his own pace.
Mr A receives low-rate PIP and ESA. To enable him to care for his elderly parents he has to walk 2 hours to their home, care for them throughout the day, and walks 2 hours back to his home. He cannot afford the bus fare.
Mr A advised me that having a Gold Card (bus pass) would hugely improve his health and wellbeing. One of the criteria for a bus pass is having a learning difficulty however a letter from the GP is required.
I wrote supporting letter for Mr A to send with gold card application. In less than 2 weeks Mr A has received Gold Card. This now enables him to travel by bus to care for his parents without the 4 hour walk. This has had a huge impact on Mr A's life and on how he cares for his parents.
Case Study Ms B
Female, 47 YO – Survivor of domestic abuse. Has non-molestation order in place re ex-partner. Suffers with anxiety. Has 10 YO son, awaiting autistic diagnosis. No family support, mum has dementia. Struggles getting son to school due to autism. On a good day, she will manage to get him there at 10am, often unable to get him to school.
Spoken to Ms B over several weeks and built up a relationship allowing her to tell her story. This has enabled me to gain her trust and offer support around DV issues and parenting challenges. Using different techniques such as motivational interviewing and counselling techniques this has helped build her confidence.
Job centre strongly encouraging Ms B to work in hospitality. Would not be able to guarantee arriving at work on time due to issues with son and unsociable shift patterns.
Ms B enjoys crafting, making leather goods, wooden display pieces, natural soaps etc and has a stock of goods. Ms B would like to start own business. She already has premises and equipment. Ms B would be able to schedule this work around son's schooling and term times.
Discussed options with Ms B and linked her to the "Building Better Opportunities" scheme who support people to overcome personal barriers to employment and training, by providing an all-inclusive package of support to those most at risk of social exclusion.
Ms B is currently being supported by Building Better Opportunities.