Social prescribing is a fundamental aspect of the NHS Long Term Plan. The roll-out of social prescribing is underpinned by the belief that individuals have the capacity to define and solve their own problems and that local communities are rich in social assets, skills and talents which can be tapped into to enhance and improve health and wellbeing. Social Prescribing Link Workers (SPLWs) aim to focus on what matters to each client holistically, looking at social, economic and environmental factors and creating personalised care plans to improve wellbeing linking in to local community resources and assets. This philosophy aligns with both the person centred ethos of hospice care and the Public Health model of Palliative Care.

Aims To adopt a partnership approach to develop and deliver social prescribing through hospice partnerships with local VCSE organisations and local PCNs to develop and deliver social prescribing. Commitment to learning and developing together rather than ‘doing’ social prescribing through service provision, drawing on the strengths of the local community and the partner organisations.

Actions

• Social prescribers in post fully funded through PCN with commitment for five years - links built with GPs, hospice and other services.

• Partnership approach embedded, service launch in March 2020 – impacted by COVID-19 pandemic, an opportunity and a threat.

Outcomes

• Social prescribing now embedded in local community and GP practices. Over 500 referrals received in year 1: bereavement, end-of-life care plans, carers support identified as some of the key challenges people face.

• Data and case studies support difference Social Prescribing is making on individual and system perspective.

• NHS Graduate evaluation report completed.

Conclusion Involvement in a partnership approach to social prescribing is supporting the hospice in facilitating a public health model to palliative and end-of-life care being adopted as part of the wider system change.