Social Prescribing Twitter Takeover
Thursday 10th was International Social Prescribing day. As part of this, our team of Social Prescribers with the Cotswold Community Wellbeing Service took over our Twitter account to answer questions all about social prescribing.
Have a look below at all the tweets and some very useful answers:
Fast approaching our #SocialPrescribingDay Twitter Takeover!
— GRCC - Supporting Communities in Gloucestershire (@GlosRCC) March 10, 2022
We'll have our Social Prescribers Carol, Bridget, Caroline and Karen to answer questions! We've had a few sent in already but comment anymore to find out more about social prescribing!@NASPTweets | @SocialPrescrib2 pic.twitter.com/DLkyYrRFzQ
What is social prescribing?
— GRCC - Supporting Communities in Gloucestershire (@GlosRCC) March 10, 2022
Carol - Provide information, advice, access to services, connection to services, assisted signposting, working with clients, to better their health and wellbeing using health coaching techniques.#SocialPrescribingDay
Amanda - linking people in with local community assets gives them the opportunity for volunteering themselves and giving is one of the pillars that is important in terms of health and wellbeing.#SocialPrescribingDay
— GRCC - Supporting Communities in Gloucestershire (@GlosRCC) March 10, 2022
The other pillars of health and wellbeing are:
— GRCC - Supporting Communities in Gloucestershire (@GlosRCC) March 10, 2022
Connecting, being active, learning and being mindful.#SocialPrescribingDay
Is it Medical?
— GRCC - Supporting Communities in Gloucestershire (@GlosRCC) March 10, 2022
Bridget - No, in short, we work with people's health and wellbeing in terms of social and environmental factors rather than medical.#SocialPrescribingDay
Do they work in GP Surgeries?
— GRCC - Supporting Communities in Gloucestershire (@GlosRCC) March 10, 2022
Bridget - Yes is the short answer, we can work with people in surgeries.
Amanda - We take a lot of referrals from GP surgeries and have a close link with them and occasionally have a dedicated slot.#SocialPrescribingDay
Carol - We work in a blended approach as well through phone calls, video calls, home visits and within the community.#SocialPrescribingDay
— GRCC - Supporting Communities in Gloucestershire (@GlosRCC) March 10, 2022
What area do you cover?
— GRCC - Supporting Communities in Gloucestershire (@GlosRCC) March 10, 2022
Karen - We have an adults service in the North and South Cotswolds and a childrens service in the North Cotswolds.
Carol - Social Prescribing is used internationally and there are services in every district of Gloucestershire.#SocialPrescribingDay
How do I get in touch?
— GRCC - Supporting Communities in Gloucestershire (@GlosRCC) March 10, 2022
Caroline - You can be referred through your doctors surgery or you can go through our website with the phone number, email or referral form. You can also refer yourself.
You can find the info here: https://t.co/izGVUUzL3W#SocialPrescribingDay
What's the best quality of a Social Prescriber?
— GRCC - Supporting Communities in Gloucestershire (@GlosRCC) March 10, 2022
Carol - A sense of humour! Non-judgemental, kindness, good communication skills
Amanda - Listening skills, patience.
Karen - Empathy, a friendly face. The list is endless!
Caroline - Flexibility#SocialPrescribingDay
What things can they help me with?
— GRCC - Supporting Communities in Gloucestershire (@GlosRCC) March 10, 2022
Caroline - Mental health and wellbeing, isolation, loneliness, debt and finance, long term health conditions, housing and environment, employment, general health and fitness, caring responsibilities and wellbeing checks.#SocialPrescribingDay
Karen -Working with 8-24 years the service is designed to help anyone who experiencing issues that are affecting their health and wellbeing this may be putting you in touch with groups in the community, local services but exploring what is important to you.#SocialPrescribingDay
— GRCC - Supporting Communities in Gloucestershire (@GlosRCC) March 10, 2022
Do I have to pay?
— GRCC - Supporting Communities in Gloucestershire (@GlosRCC) March 10, 2022
Caroline - No the service is absolutely free and it's also confidential!#SocialPrescribingDay
How long can a social prescriber spend with me?
— GRCC - Supporting Communities in Gloucestershire (@GlosRCC) March 10, 2022
Bridget - Up to six months is generally what we work to.
Amanda - Usually we tend to see people for an average of 3 months.#SocialPrescribingDay
Is there a criteria I have to meet to get help?
— GRCC - Supporting Communities in Gloucestershire (@GlosRCC) March 10, 2022
Carol - There are no requirements, we won't turn anyone away who needs help. #SocialPrescribingDay
How long has it been going for?
— GRCC - Supporting Communities in Gloucestershire (@GlosRCC) March 10, 2022
Carol - The GRCC Cotswold Community Wellbeing Service has been going since October 2017
Bridget - Social Prescribing in general has been going for over 20 years but we've seen it grow far more in the last two or three years#SocialPrescribingDay
Carol - GRCC ran a similar service from 2006 called Village Agents which was then replaced with the Community Wellbeing Service.#SocialPrescribingDay
— GRCC - Supporting Communities in Gloucestershire (@GlosRCC) March 10, 2022
What is the wait time to see one?
— GRCC - Supporting Communities in Gloucestershire (@GlosRCC) March 10, 2022
Amanda - Usually not very long, a couple of the weeks, but due to the demands from COVID we have a backlog on the service. It can always be variable though and we do our best to be as quick as possible.#SocialPrescribingDay
What training do the Social Prescribers have?
— GRCC - Supporting Communities in Gloucestershire (@GlosRCC) March 10, 2022
Bridget - Health Coaching, Motivational interviewing
Carol - Safeguarding, mental health awareness
Karen - Suicide Prevention
Amanda - ACES (adverse childhood experiences) and Trauma informed practice.#SocialPrescribingDay
Bridget - We are constantly seeking out new training and keep up to date with training on new issues to keep us informed across all areas.
— GRCC - Supporting Communities in Gloucestershire (@GlosRCC) March 10, 2022
Amanda - And that includes practical things like the @WarmAndWell webinars.#SocialPrescribingDay
Carol - A couple of us are also @GDASS_ champions!#SocialPrescribingDay
— GRCC - Supporting Communities in Gloucestershire (@GlosRCC) March 10, 2022
I am new to the area, can social prescribing help me with ideas of how to get to know what's going on locally?
— GRCC - Supporting Communities in Gloucestershire (@GlosRCC) March 10, 2022
Carol - Yes, of course! We'd look at finding new groups and community connections and opportunities for volunteering within their community.#SocialPrescribingDay
If I'm on a waiting list to see a specialist, will seeing a social prescriber affect that?
— GRCC - Supporting Communities in Gloucestershire (@GlosRCC) March 10, 2022
Karen - No! For example, if I was seeing a child who was waiting to see CAMHS I can work with them in the interim period on low level mental health and self help.#SocialPrescribingDay
I'm nervous about doing new things, so what would the point be in seeing a social prescriber?
— GRCC - Supporting Communities in Gloucestershire (@GlosRCC) March 10, 2022
Bridget - well we can support you with those anxieties and empowering and enabling you to build confidence to do new things.#SocialPrescribingDay
That concludes our Twitter Takeover with our Social Prescribing team! We'll be posting a blog with all this afternoons tweets on tomorrow so look out for that!
— GRCC - Supporting Communities in Gloucestershire (@GlosRCC) March 10, 2022
Thanks to those who have joined in and we hope you found the answers useful!#SocialPrescribingDay