Social prescribing, sometimes referred to as community referral, is a means of enabling people to be referred to a range of local, non-clinical services. 

Recognising that people’s health is determined by economic and environmental factors, social prescribing seeks to address people’s needs in a holistic way. It also aims to support people to take greater control of their own health.

Social prescribing can meet a wide range of needs, with many schemes aiming to improve mental health and physical wellbeing. It can be used to support adults, young people and children as well as people with learning disabilities or mental health problems. It can be used in primary and secondary care. Social prescribing can also help to address social issues such as debt, unemployment, gambling and loneliness.

Examples of schemes include volunteering, arts activities, group learning, gardening, befriending, cookery, healthy eating advice and a range of sports.

The extent to which we have control over our lives, have good social connections and live in healthy, safe neighbourhoods are all important influences on health. These community-level determinants are protective of good mental and physical health and can buffer against stressors across the life course.

Community-centred ways of working can be more effective than more traditional services in improving the health and wellbeing of marginalised groups and vulnerable individuals. For this reason, they are an essential way of reducing health inequalities within a local area or community.

Social prescribing and community-based support is part of the NHS Long-Term Plan’s commitment to make personalised care business as usual across the health and care system. Social prescribing is one of the six components of Universal Personalised Care. The NHS Long Term Plan published in January 2019 has a commitment to personalised care and increasing access to social prescribing for the whole population. 

Social prescribing should also be used by Allied Health Professionals working outside of the NHS. Social prescribing improves outcomes for people by giving more choice and control over their lives. It is effective at targeting the causes of health inequalities and is particularly useful for people who need more support with their mental health, have one or more long-term conditions, are lonely or isolated, and/or have complex social needs that affect their wellbeing. 

There is a growing body of evidence that social prescribing reduces pressure on the NHS by directing people to more appropriate services and groups – an evidence summary published by the University of Westminster suggests that where a person has support through social prescribing, their GP consultations reduce by an average of 28% and A&E attendances by 24%.

More information and background to social prescribing is available in the All Our Health guidance on social prescribing.

There are 14 types of allied health professional:

• Art Therapists
• Dramatherapists
• Music Therapists
• Chiropodists/Podiatrists
• Dietitians
• Occupational Therapists
• Operating Department Practitioners
• Orthoptists
• Osteopaths
• Prosthetists and Orthotists
• Paramedics
• Physiotherapists
• Diagnostic and Therapeutic Radiographers
• Speech and Language Therapists

The ways in which AHPs will use social prescribing will vary according to their role. All AHPs however, have the skills and knowledge to use social prescribing to address both the presenting needs of the person and those which become apparent later on.