Primary Care Wirral is working in partnership with Wirral University Teaching Hospital, Macmillan Cancer Support, Wirral Council, Wirral CCG and Citizens Advice Wirral to provide Primary Care Networks in Wirral with a new social prescribing service.
PCNs interested in the offer will benefit from streamlined access to local-based Social Prescribing Link Workers, with enhanced skills around patient support, in particular those with long term conditions and cancer.
Primary Care Wirral has developed this initiative alongside PCN’s to further develop personalised care and support, and looks to integrate key third sector organisations, such as Age UK, to facilitate targeting those most in need of support.
Healthy South Wirral and Brighter Birkenhead are the first two Wirral GP networks to benefit from PCW social prescribing services, however the offer is open to any local PCNs within Wirral.
Social Prescribers to be hired before 2020
Social Prescribing Link Workers are one of the key staff roles that must be fulfilled by PCNs as part of their new Network Contract DES.
PCNs are expected to recruit link workers before 2020 and create shared social prescribing plans for their networks.
“Helping practices embed the best local link workers in to practice, easily and quickly is a priority for our federation,” said PCW Board Member Karen Livesey.
“This ensures deadlines established within their Network GP contracts are met, and also guarantees patients become familiar with the role and benefit from social prescribing services as soon as possible.
“Our partnership approach helps us to achieve both of these objectives.”
Personalised care support plans
Social prescribing is a key element of Universal Personalised Care.
Link workers will facilitate a holistic approach to service users health and wellbeing, as they complement medical treatment by assessing the social needs of individual patients.
Social prescribers assist individuals in a wide range of contexts, including patients with long-term conditions, mental health issues, loneliness and isolation and complex social circumstances affecting their wellbeing.
Their role is key in the design of personalised support plans and connecting people with local community groups and statutory services, for practical and emotional support.
PCW solution for Wirral PCNs
As part of its HR solution for GP networks, Primary Care Wirral is also helping PCNs recruit Clinical Pharmacists via its long-standing collaboration with Wirral University Teaching Hospital.
If you are involved in the development of a local PCN and would like to find out more details about our Social Prescribing service, please contact Karen Livesey on klivesey@nhs.net.
