What is social prescribing?

This article outlines research into social prescribing provision in one Clinical Commissioning Group area in England. Based on primary data collected from focus groups with social prescribing practitioners (n=8), local council/Public Health employees (n=6) and GPs (n=4) and interviews with 40 social prescription practitioners and 22 patients from 23 interventions it shows that there is no clear and agreed definition of what constitutes social prescribing. Based on analysis of local practice this article delineates social prescribing interventions into four types: Signposting, Light, Medium and Holistic. It outlines the problems related to data collection around social prescribing interventions effectiveness but points to emerging evidence that suggests that SP holistic interventions can contribute to improvement in patient wellbeing, reduction in anxiety and depression and attendance at GP surgeries

Developing a social prescribing approach for Bristol

This report will outline three different models of Social Prescribing (SP) to help to describe the types of SP practice provided across the city: Light, Medium and Holistic. It briefly outlines local examples of each. All of the Holistic projects identified here have emerged from organic partnerships that have independently developed between GPs in practice and their local third sector partners to address perceived well-being needs that they both identify. Data from one SP holistic project suggests that three months after a beneficiary’s induction on the project beneficiaries show statistically significant improvement in: PHQ9 (p=0.001), GAD7(p=0.001) , Friendship Scale (p=0.001), ONS Wellbeing measures (item range p=0.05 through to p= 0.001) and IPAQ items for moderate exercise.Analysis of GP contact times also suggest that for 6 in 10 SP Holistic beneficiaries there is a reduction in their GP attendance rates in the 12 months post intervention compared to the 12 months period prior to the referral. For 26% of beneficiaries it stayed the same and for 14% it actually increased

What is the value of social prescribing?

General practice is in crisis. Across the UK different models of social prescribing have evolved to meet the growth in patient attendance. Although there is growing evidence of their efficacy there is little evidence of their value. Analysing one holistic social prescribing intervention this research adopts a social return on investment approach. Using an impact questionnaire, including validated items impact of the programme was assessed on 128 new patients over 12 months. This was followed up with semi-structured interviews with 40 patients; analysis of GP attendance data and the recording of other social outcomes. Data collected show statistically significant improvement in: Public Health Questionnaire 9 (p

East Devon forget-me-not reminiscence service: A review of data collection and the development of a logic model

This is not an evaluation report of a service or intervention. It does not seek to make any assessment of the effectiveness or cost effectiveness of the Forget-Me-Not reminiscence service. Instead it is a briefing report that highlights the information and data currently collected and collated to help develop a logic model and provide advice on data monitoring to encourage the project to think broadly about what may be required to assess and track its progress in the future.It is known that the provision of high quality approaches to providing meaningful and enjoyable activities are a key part of enabling people residing in care homes to 'live well' with dementia (Department of Health, 2009).However a recent evaluation of 17 care homes across three regions of the country, revealed that residents spent less than 13 per cent of the waking day engaged in any meaningful activity (Ballard et al, 2011). Consequently forget-Me-Not is potentially a valuable service.Looking at the five constituencies that make up Devon, the East Devon constituency has an older age profile compared to the other districts i.e. 29.7% of the total East Devon population are aged 65 years and over (Devon County Council, 2014). Applying 2007 prevalence rates to ONS population projections of the 65 and over population, an estimated 4,091 people are predicted to have dementia in East Devon by 2025, which represents 22.2% of the total population aged 65 and over in Devon predicted to have dementia by then (POPPI 2014).This briefing document looks the theory underpinning Reminiscence Therapy (RT) and includes them in the logic model to understand the service delivered by the Forget-Me-Not intervention hosted by the East Devon Voluntary Services Agency (EDVSA).Our fieldwork interviewing of stakeholders, volunteers, care co-ordinators and staff enabled us to assess and validate anticipated outcomes from the service as specified in EDVSA’s business plan (2015).This report makes suggestions on drastically modifying the current Forget-Me-Not feedback form to make it a more effective tool to assess what was actually delivered in the sessions. Importantly: the number of attendees, the number of staff supporting and the number of volunteers in attendance need to be captured for each session. If added and inputted into the data base this will help with later unit cost analysis and will become a useful measure of quality.In the absence of any data from existing forms it is recommended that the outcome measures included on the feedback form to be included in a one off survey of care co-ordinators and care homes to discern whether there is any further demonstrable impact on beneficiaries. These questions should not be asked at the end of each session.Other information captured by the feedback questionnaire should be captured in a one-off enquiry at the start of the relationship with a care home/venue. The information should then inputted on to the existing care home database for later analysis. Additional demographics should also be captured at the start of the relationship with a new e.g. number of patients with dementia.We make two suggestions for moving forward and capturing evaluation data the acceptance and pursuance of which will depend on funds available and EDVSA’s ambition.Firstly we suggest that a feasibility trial could be conducted in one home that has most exposure to the service. The prime outcome measure could be the Euro Quality of Life wellbeing measure (EQ5d) to be completed by staff before and after the trial. Quality-adjusted life year (QALY) calculations can be derived with impact validated through interviews with families, the care staff and journals kept by volunteers. This is a standard research methodology used when presenting evidence to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and an approach supported by the Dunhill Medical Trust.Our logic model will reflect that more value accrues from the Forget-Me-Not service than simply that stemming from the impact it has beneficiaries. Unlike traditional trials that take a health service or service provider perspective our second suggestion of doing a social return on investment analysis (SROI) will assess and assume that values can occur for a range of different stakeholders. This report will outline the benefits and challenges of doing both of these approaches

The Balsam Centre Wellbeing Project evaluation and SROI analysis: Summary and full report

Evaluation and Social Return on Investment (SROI) analysis of a mental ill health and wellbeing support project delivered by The Balsam Centre in Somerset. The project combines one-to-one therapy with participation in arts and horticulture groups. SROI analysis found that the SROI ratio is 1:3.21. This means that the SROI analysis estimates that for every £1 spent on Wellbeing Support Project there is £3.21 of social value created