SCC AGC Social Prescribing - Evaluation Feasibility - AWARD

Social prescribing describes a way in which health and social care professionals (in fact any professional that is in contact with the general public) can access a wide range of non-medical options for an individual to address socioeconomic and psychosocial issues. A social prescribing scheme is a way of linking patients in primary care with sources of support within the community and will enable an individual to move between professional sectors and their community to fully address all the factors affecting their health and wellbeing before they escalate, viewing the individual as a person rather than defining them by their condition or disability.

Within Surrey, there are a wide range of community resources available to help keep people independent and well but often fail to connect local residents-in-need to all that is available to them. While there are pockets of good practice within the County where social prescribing pilots are underway, there is a need for the benefits of a Social Prescribing approach to be realised and evidenced countywide in a sustainable manner. While the evidence base around social prescribing is growing it is limited. We are seeking develop a social prescribing approach at scale across Surrey and in addition develop a robust evaluation that will inform the effectiveness of the local approach; guide future commissioning decisions; and significantly contribute to the emerging evidence base. This project will explore the feasibility of evaluating social prescribing at scale across Surrey.