Social Prescribing

Age UK Norwich
69-75 Thorpe Road
Norwich
Norfolk
NR1 1UA
United Kingdom

Email: enquiries@ageuknorwich.org.uk
Telephone: 01603 496333

Social Prescribing aims to improve health and wellbeing by offering tailored advice and guidance which supports the individual in working towards achieving their goals.

What is Social Prescribing?

Social Prescribing aims to improve health and wellbeing by offering tailored advice and guidance which supports the individual in working towards achieving their goals. At Age UK Norwich, we have 4 Information, Advice & Welfare Advisors who work under the Norwich & Broadland Social Prescribing Project, alongside NCAB, Equal Lives, Shelter and MAP.

They have alternative titles such as Social Prescribers or Living Well Workers but they can all give accredited advice and support.

The Social Prescribers receive their referrals via the Norfolk Community Advice Network (NCAN) system or via CIFICs. They are based at various GP Surgeries across the city and work closely with the ICC’s, GP’s, and medical staff within them.

We have 2 Social Prescribers who are based with the I.N.T.E.R.A.C.T Team at Norwich City Council (Norwich Integrated Anticipatory Care Team), who work closely with Norwich Council Home Improvement Team, and we have 1 Social Prescriber based at the Norwich JobCentre working closely with the DWP Work Coaches.

https://www.ageuk.org.uk/norwich/our-services/information-and-advice/social-prescribing/

What does a Living Well Worker do?

Living Well Workers can support clients in areas including:

• Housing Activities
• Clubs and groups
• Benefits
• Family and Relationships
• Blue badges and transport.
• Mental Health
• Budgeting and Debt
• Education and training
• Debt Work
• Care
• Rights and Responsibilities

A Living Well Worker/Social Prescriber can:

• Give you time to talk through your issues in confidence
• Help you identify priorities
• Provide information and practical advice
• Support you in setting goals
• Identify how those goals might be met
• Direct you to local sources of support
• Manage referrals to other specialist services
• Encourage independence
• Advice and guidance for health and wellbeing

Referrals

Any health or care professional can refer a client to the Social Prescribing team. This might be your GP, nurse or social worker. Just let them know what you would like some extra support with. They will share this information with us so that we can allocate your case to a Living Well Worker.

What happens after a referral

A Living Well Worker/SP will then get in touch to arrange an initial appointment where you can talk, in confidence, about what it is you need help with.

The Living Well Worker will then help you to set priorities, decide on the level of support that you will need and put together a plan of action.

Living Well Worker/SPs offer a person-centred approach. This means that you are in control of your own plan but the worker will stay with you as you move towards your goals and provide you with regular contact so that you can stay on track. This contact can be by phone, text, e-mail, letter or face to face at a GP surgery or other location.