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More than signposting: Findings from an evaluation of a social prescribing service

White, Caroline; Bell, Jo; Reid, Marie; Dyson, Judith

Authors

Marie Reid

Judith Dyson



Contributors

Marie Reid
Researcher

Judith Dyson
Researcher

Abstract

This paper presents findings from an evaluation of a social prescribing service, undertaken between January 2019 and December 2020. Data was collected through interviews and focus groups with a range of groups including social prescribing managers, link workers (LWs), referrers (GPs and social work practitioners), clients, Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) agencies and groups. Thematic analysis of data was undertaken, and findings were presented in respect of clients' journeys into social prescribing; the support received from LWs; their onward journeys to VCS support. The findings highlight the challenges for individuals in contacting new agencies/groups and the importance of practitioner referral into and onwards from social prescribing, as well as buddying to support clients on initial agency visits. The depth of the LW role is highlighted, as well as the complexity of client circumstances, highlighting a need for ‘more than signposting’, and challenging the notion of self-referral as an indicator of motivation. Social prescribing has been positioned as amongst the solutions to the challenges of primary care. However, referrals from GPs were low and significantly outnumbered by those from social workers; this suggests a need to explore in greater depth the use of social prescribing by social workers, who have, to date, been absent from social prescribing research.

Citation

White, C., Bell, J., Reid, M., & Dyson, J. (2022). More than signposting: Findings from an evaluation of a social prescribing service. Health and Social Care in the Community, https://doi.org/10.1111/hsc.13925

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Jul 4, 2022
Online Publication Date Aug 1, 2022
Publication Date 2022
Deposit Date Jul 11, 2022
Publicly Available Date Aug 2, 2023
Journal Health and Social Care in the Community
Print ISSN 0966-0410
Electronic ISSN 1365-2524
Publisher Wiley
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
DOI https://doi.org/10.1111/hsc.13925
Keywords Link worker; Primary care; Referral; Signposting; Social prescribing; Social work
Public URL https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/4028384
Publisher URL Early view https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/13652524/0/0

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