Social prescribing is a means of enabling GPs, nurses and other healthcare professionals to refer people to a range of local non-clinical services. This dinner event will explore who can refer, who can benefit, and how social prescribing is done successfully throughout the world.
Social prescribing is a highly practical way of addressing the social determinants of health. Primary health clinicians often talk of not having the time nor resources to be able to fully engage and empower people to address aspects of their lives that are having a significant impact on their mental and physical health.
These aspects include access to safe and affordable housing; access to learning and skills development; the availability of healthy foods and the capability to prepare healthy meals; financial security/stress; and opportunities to socialise/ address loneliness.
The benefits of social prescribing are evident, yet implementing social prescribing in practice still has many healthcare clinicians confused. To help address this, Victoria Sullivan will describe in detail the workings of the Health Connections Mendip social prescribing ecosystem. Following on from Victoria, you will hear from Feros Care about the Healthy Me, Healthy Community Social Prescribing Pilot Program that’s being rolled out in Port Macquarie.
Proudly supported through Healthy North Coast funding, this is an opportunity
to learn how you can get involved. Includes a 2-course dinner.
Presenters
- Victoria Sullivan, Health Promotion Practitioner & Researcher
- Brett Johnson, Service Delivery Manager, Connected Communities Feros Care
- Jo Winwood, Head of Fundraising and Supporter Relationships, Feros Care
- Facilitated by: Dr Andy Williams, Medical Educator, Healthy North Coast
Learning objectives
- Define social prescribing and the social determinants of health
- Explain the concept of a social prescribing scheme and outline the steps required to introduce social prescribing in clinical practice
- Use appropriate communication skills, identify and analyse patients’ needs in the context of social determinants of health