Project Description
To deliver the benefits of Social Prescribing by supporting individuals deemed to be in Tier 1 (early presentation of problems or distress) and Tier 2 (mild to moderate presentation) mental health needs. The Programme will build best practice, promote positive mental wellbeing and can accurately prescribe social activities.
The Programme will contribute towards building personal confidence and resilience, encouraging and supporting participants to take strength and heart from socialisation and building and strengthening their social networks by acting on their own behalf for their own benefit.
The Programme will address the following key issues:
- Highlighting Social Prescribing as a positive method towards self-help.
- Provision of an alternative to waiting lists for those seeking support from health professionals for a range of issues.
- Addressing the shortage of suitable interventions in a range of health issues.
- Supporting local communities with provision of interventions into creating positive mental health.
- Increasing knowledge about how people can utilise social prescribing.
By the end of the Programme, the following targets will have been achieved:
- 325 participants recruited.
- 50 x practitioners recruited.
- A minimum of 26 hours (total) of meaningful engagement provided per participant.
- Development of a social prescribing journey programme and referral mechanism.
- Compilation of a range of social prescribing assessments and baseline matrices to provide a “well-being” score and a social prescription development plan to each participant.
- Delivery of a study visit for 50 x Practitioners to visit examples of Social Prescribing in operation in the Republic of Ireland and/or Scotland.
- Provision of a benchmarking styled report/evaluation looking at the similarities and differences between Social Prescribing in Northern Ireland, The Republic of Ireland and Scotland.
BUDGET: £206,000.00