Age UK Islington Newsletter

Latest: We are up and running!

This is the first of a regular newsletter, for PCN South and Central 1, to keep you informed about the new Social Prescribing service and to showcase the great work that's already been done.

It's an exciting time...Social Prescribing Link Workers Elaine Gill, Emma Robertson and Charlene Butler, are in place and referrals are building fast! We’ve received referrals from Mitchinson Road, Islington Central, Mildmay, Clerkenwell, Killick Street, City Road, Ritchie Street, Highbury Grange, Roman Way surgeries.

Michael O’Dwyer, Head of Service, Age UK Islington gives an update!

Know-how: Social prescribing is not just "social"!

“Social prescribing” is a slightly strange and possibly misleading label. One common misperception is that it's just to connect patients to social activities. The reality is that it can connect patients to community and statutory support for a wide range of wellbeing issues, e.g. housing, finances and more.

Build and test your knowledge of Social Prescribing with our short quiz.

Test your knowledge

Insight: Why meeting face to face works

We’re sometimes asked whether we would simply give a patient a phone number to get in touch with an organisation that can offer help. The answer in 90% of cases is “no”. Whilst there is a place for signposting, we’ve found from experience, that it is much better to meet face to face with the client. Linkworker, Elaine Gill, explains why, with reference to a patient who was recently referred to her.

Client stories

We will provide feedback on patients at an individual level via patient notes on EMIS, but we also aim to share insight into what’s prescribed and patient outcomes, via Age UK Islington Analytics and through regular case studies.

Client story 1:

65 year old male following a discharge from hospital. The patient had been in hospital for several months and had built up debts. Lived on his own. Nothing further could be done medically. Find out how we were able to support him.

Client story 2:

42 year old female, who had been a carer for her mother who recently passed away. Anxiety & panic attacks, loss of identity, housing & life interests. Find out how we were able to support her.

Other Age UK social prescribing resources

Social Prescribing slide deck
More info about what social prescribing is and how the Age UK Islington approach to social prescribing can help patients remove barriers to improvements in their wellbeing. Find out how we help patients move closer to self-management with our different tiers of support.

Wellbeing in One service
Find out how our PCN Central 1 / South Link Workers can seamlessly connect patients into our wider Wellbeing in One service, where needed. From more intensive support from Wellbeing Reablement or Care Navigation Caseworkers to proactive follow-up support, e.g. Wellbeing telephone checks.

Questions?

Referrals should be made via EMIS, but for any further information about the Social Prescribing service, please contact:

Central 1 Social Prescribing Link Worker: Elaine Gill/Emma Robertson
South Social Prescribing Link Worker: Charlene Butler
AUKI Head of Service: Michael 0’Dwyer MODwyer@ageukislington.org.uk

South & Central 1 Social Prescribing