Social Prescribing team in Amber Valley supporting 200 people a month
A team of social prescribers in Amber Valley who see around 200 people every month have gone from strength to strength this year.
The five-strong team, which includes a Youth Social Prescriber, has helped hundreds of people this year.
This includes helping 119 to start using the NHS app through ‘digital drop-ins’ and helping to connect 380 people from wellbeing events in local community settings like leisure centres with appropriate support such as exercise programmes.
Lynn McCree, CEO of Amber Valley CVS, said: “The value of social prescribers can’t be underestimated. We know that loneliness and low level mental ill health can be just as damaging to someone’s health as smoking so if we can help someone it can make a huge difference.”
The team are funded by ARCH Primary Care Network and hosted and supported by Amber Valley CVS with a base in Ripley where they can see people. They link into GP surgeries and from CVS can signpost people to many community groups. They also host a bereavement support group and ‘living well with pain’ workshops.
They also see people about a range of issues which could impact their health including finance, day to day help, long term conditions, housing, bereavement, employment, caring responsibilities and lifestyle issues.
They often attend events and community spaces to spread their reach into the community.
Sarah Lonsdale, a social prescriber in the team, said: “During a recent event I had the opportunity to meet a client I’ve been supporting for some time, although we had only ever spoken over the phone. He is sight impaired but recognised my voice instantly.
“We had a warm and friendly conversation, and I was pleased to hear he was in the process of moving into his own accommodation — something we had previously discussed.
“Given our past conversations about tenancy support, I introduced him to the Futures Housing team, who were present at the event. They spoke with him and agreed to arrange for a tenancy support worker to contact him as soon as possible. Additionally, he engaged with the Hearing Help team and had the chance to try out some assistive equipment. Remarkably, it enabled him to hear from one of his ears for the first time in a long time.
“He was absolutely thrilled with the level of support provided, and the positive impact the day had on him. Overall, it was a successful and meaningful interaction that demonstrated the value of multi-agency collaboration in supporting individuals with complex needs.”
Dr Penny Blackwell, GP at Hannage Brook Medical Centre and Chair and Clinical Director for Neighbourhood Health and Care at Derby and Derbyshire ICB, said: “Social prescribing is vital to the NHS because it tackles the wider causes of ill health, not just the symptoms. By connecting people to community groups, creative activities and practical support, it helps patients build resilience, reduce loneliness and improve wellbeing.
“This is a really great example of a neighbourhood way of working, being able to address wider determinants of health using our community resources. It also eases pressure on overstretched clinical services and shifts the focus of care towards prevention and inclusion.
“In this way, social prescribing strengthens the NHS and creates a health service that is truly person‑centred.”