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LONDON SOCIAL PRESCRIBING NEWSLETTER
ISSUE 18/July 2022
QUICK SIGN-UPs:    
FOREWORD
Hello all,

We are very excited to hear from all of you considering to apply for the SP Innovators Programme - the passion and enthusiasm you share is what we all need in London Social Prescribing! If you would like to learn more about the application process to receive up to £10k funding and the opportunity to partake in a programme offer of support between September 22 – February 2023, all the details are on our website. If you are interested in other funds available for SP projects it is worth signing up for London Social Prescribing Network Newsletter (for voluntary organisations) as they always have an amazing grants section published.

It would be great if you could complete the Temperature Check Survey this month too - it allows us to gather an actual picture of the situation in London.
Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions, suggestions or innovative ideas related to social prescribing!

Lianna Martin & Justyna Sobotka
 

Signing up to the mailing list
If you know of a new SPLW, Care Coordinator or Health and Well Being Coach that has started in post, please feel free to pass on this newsletter and ask them to sign up to receive news about events, learning opportunities and general updates about social prescribing and other ARRS roles.
1-MINUTE OVERVIEW 
1. Social Prescribing Innovators Programme. Read more...
2. FutureNHS Social Prescribing Platform and SP Webinar Series survey. Read more...
3. SPLW Social Prescribing Maturity Framework. Read more...
4. Webinars and Peer Learning sessions - recordings available here.
5. Social Prescribing Advocates Programme. Read more...
6. Where to post SP job offers or look for job opportunities related to SP?. Read more...
LONDON SPLW TEMPERATURE CHECK 

SPLW temperature check form. Please complete this month survey here.

Being a Social Prescribing Link Worker is a complex and demanding professional role. Although we hope you enjoy your daily tasks and find the role very rewarding, we are also aware of aspects you may struggle with. Therefore, we would like to gain more insight into your experience and perception of the role. We would appreciate if you could spend one minute every month providing information on some aspects of your work in this anonymised form.

SPLW Temperature Check

NHS ENGLAND UPDATES, SESSIONS & SUPPORT

Every other Wednesday: 1.00 - 2.30pm

Once you register for an event, you will receive a joining link on the morning of the event.

20th July 2022, 1.00 - 2.30pm
Implementing the Proactive Social Prescribing Service Specification. Register here.


How to deliver the new Proactive Social Prescribing aspects of the GP Network Contract DES specification, including:

  • Agreeing and putting into place a targeted programme to improve access to social prescribing
  • A focus on Population Health Management (PHM), the Tackling Neighbourhood Inequalities Network Contract DES Specification and CORE20PLUS5 approach in conjunction with lived experience to identify the patient cohort(s)
  • Examples of collaborative working with local partners including the VCSE to inform proactive service design for accessible and sustainable provision for the patient cohort(s)
  • Impact and patient outcomes
  • Utilising funding from the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme to increase service capacity where available; including, if possible, recruiting specialist Social Prescribing Link Workers with specific skills or knowledge for the patient cohort(s) identified
3rd August 2022, 1.00 - 2.30pm:
Making the most of community assets to deliver Proactive Social Prescribing. Register here.

FutureNHS Social Prescribing Platform and Social Prescribing Webinar Series survey
In the coming months, the NHS England social prescribing team will be refreshing the FutureNHS Social Prescribing Collaboration Platform and are keen to hear from you on how to improve the content and navigation of the workspace.  At the same time, they will be reviewing the national Social Prescribing webinar series and they welcome your views on the topics, frequency and format.  Please submit your responses using this link by Tuesday 26th July 2022.


SPLW Social Prescribing Maturity Framework. 
We are sharing the draft of the Social Prescribing Maturity Framework to support local areas to develop a mature and sustainable social prescribing ecosystem.  The maturity framework is a quality improvement tool to support leaders at System, Place and Neighbourhood levels to work together strategically to embed social prescribing and enable it to be as effective as possible. The SP maturity framework will enable local leaders to: 

  • Assess local social prescribing maturity and determine areas for improvement 
  • Create an ICS social prescribing strategy, agreeing key priorities for improving social prescribing 
  • Determine key priorities for collaborative working at a local level We want the document to be useful to you which is why we are sharing them in draft for you to use and let us know what you think, before we publish a final version in autumn 2022.
  • Please tell us what you think before the 30th September, using the feedback form here

Biweekly, OPEN DROP IN sessions. Sign up here.
Next session: Tuesday 12/07/2022, 4.00pm - 5.30pm

This is an open, informal session, where all can offload, discuss the challenges posed by their work and how they are feeling. Whilst practical solutions may be discussed, this is very much a session to grab a coffee, come and 'breathe out'!  Attend as many as you like.

New Social Prescribing Link Workers' Peer Support Session.Sign up here.
Next session: Tuesday 02/08/2022, 11am - 12.30pm
This session is an opportunity to cover common questions SPLWs have in the early days of being in post.  It is a chance to have an ‘off the record’ chat with more experience SPLWs and involves facilitated discussion about the challenges posed by their work currently, gaps in knowledge and a chance to receive some guidance on some of the things new SPLWs can do to orientate themselves and find out more about the support available to them.     
If you have any queries about peer support sessions, please email Justyna (j.sobotka@nhs.net).


SP Service Managers peer support 
Next session: Wednedsay 13/07/2022, 3.30pm - 5.00pm
Fill this form to receive a diary invite to all sessions.

These run every month and will be a blend of updates and news from NHSE and your local systems, and smaller group work discussing prevalent challenges coming up in your work.  It is a great opportunity to meet other managers and get in touch with the broader context of your work.  


 Next session: TBC
We would like these sessions to address the most important aspects of your Social Prescribing roles. Please let us know what would you like to discuss, share and learn from each other. Feel free to contact Justyna via email (j.sobotka@nhs.net).

All past Peer Learning for London sessions and resources are available here.


Social Welfare Legal Advice, General Practice and Social Prescribing online webinar series.

Supported by the Mayor of London, HLP and BBBC are working together to organise a series of six webinars this year. The webinar series will explore examples of effective working between social welfare legal advice, General Practice and social prescribing, and focus on some of the key areas of advice such as Housing, Fuel Poverty/Fuel Debt, etc.

  • Better benefits, rights & entitlements access to tackle health inequalitiesWatch here.
  • Fuel Poverty: Watch here / Download resources here: Part 1, Part 2.
  • Debt: Fri 9 September 2022 at 12:30-14:00. (Sign up link will be shared in the next newsletter)
  • Housing: Fri 14 October 2022 at 12:30-14:00
  • Welfare Rights: Fri 9 December 2022 at 12:30-14:00

Specialist Welfare Advice Link Worker training programme.
Healthy London Partnership, the Mayor of London and Bromley by Bow Centre are delivering a programme of support across London to increase the provision of and create better links between social welfare legal advice and primary care via social prescribing.

There are three elements to this training programme:

  1. Learning to Advise course, a class based course in which learners study as a cohort
  2. Level 3 NVQ course in advice and guidance, which consists of briefing workshops, and learners them complete a portfolio of work and evidence that they build up through the advice work they carry out on their placement at their own pace,
  3. Placement with an advice providing organisation, in which learners apply their learning practically, giving advice to clients
More information is available here: Welfare advice training information session.
If you are interested in the training please complete the expression of interest form

Please get in touch if you have ideas for future sessions.

WHAT IS LONDON WORKING ON...
...and how you can support

The Social Prescribing Innovators Programme

We are pleased to launch of HLP’s new Social Prescribing Innovators Programme – a pilot to support those working on social prescribing in London to improve delivery of services in primary care.

Applications are open until 11:59pm 20 July 2022. All the details are on our website, including information packs, link to the application form, and a recording of the Workshop and Q&A for interested applicants will be available next week. 
Please contact hlp.socialprescribing@nhs.net if you have any questions.


The Social Prescribing Information Standard is currently going through the process of endorsement by key stakeholder organisations including National Association of Link Workers (NALW) and the Royal Colleges, with presentation to the NHS Digital Assurance Board expected in August. We expect the SP Information Standard to be released for use in September, pending any revisions required through the endorsement and assurance process. Please get in touch if you would like to take part in the steering group (will be organised in July): Hlp.socialprescribing@nhs.net



The London Social Prescribing Map

London Social Prescribing Map co-produced with SP Managers, Lead SPLWs and VCSE organisations provides detail relating to all the amazing services across London - if yours is not yet added please complete this form and we will include all provided information.  Click on the tags to find out more about the number of SPLWs, specialisms, what tech is supporting, who the key contacts are and much more within a specific area.  This is very much a prototype and we hope to develop this further - so all comments are welcome and please send to j.sobotka@nhs.net.


Developing Children and Young People's Social Prescribing in London. Read more...
CYP Social Prescribing is a developing area and NHS England is supporting the expansion of CYP SP services. There is a CYP SP space on the FutureNHS Collaboration Platform which you may find useful to see resources from other parts of the country and engage in discussions.  Here is the link to the site and if you need access then please email england.socialprescribing@nhs.net. We also have our London Region CYP site available herePlease contact Suzi Griffits or complete this form if you would like to join the next CYP SP Community of Practice meeting!


Please send us your great ideas!

It is also absolutely crucial that you all have the opportunity to shape the support you are receiving and would love to hear what you might find useful or any ideas you may have. 

You can use this simple form or email us.

SOCIAL PRESCRIBING 
S
pecial Thanks And Recognition
Special Thanks And Recognition to Michaela Coker, Social Prescribing Link Worker in Lambeth - thank you for the extraordinary work and inspiration you bring to your team and our London Social Prescribing community!
Michaela Coker
Social Prescribing Link Worker
Age UK Lambeth
Streatham AT Medics PCN
"Michaela Coker is an amazing SPLW working in Lambeth. She is dedicated, passionate and always ready to support others. Michaela shows how influential a Social Prescribing Link Worker can be in the local community -  she builds strong professional relationships which enable her to organise successful Social Prescribing events where local organisations can meet people who need their support, present their offers and create meaningful connections. She also participates in the NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Programme - Transforming healthcare through innovation where she develops an app aiming to provide peer-led support for Social Prescribing Link Workers. Michaela is also actively involved in London Social Prescribing Advocates Programme and shares her skills and knowledge with other SP professionals not only in her borough but also at the regional London level. Seeing what she does is truly inspirational. Thank you Michaela for everything you do!"
Do you know a Social Prescribing Link Worker, a Clinician or a Practice Manager who does extraordinary work in this field? If so - please let us know so that we can publish a Special Thanks and Recognition (STAR) in our London Social Prescribing Newsletter! Please submit your nominations here.
THE QUESTIONS YOU ARE ASKING
Many of you get in touch with pertinent questions many other SPLWs are also wondering.  We hope to answer the popular ones here... email us to submit any burning questions!

Q16: Where could I post Social Prescribing jobs we are trying to recruit to?

A16: As appetite for social prescribing grows, many of your services may be recruiting and here are a few things we would recommend:

When advertising Social Prescribing Jobs ensure you are including London Weighting (or discussing with PCN) to the salary as you can now claim this back on the SPLW salaries (referenced here).

There are many great places aside from NHS Jobs where Social Prescribing job vacancies could be submitted:
  • You may consider creating a profile on Twitter and LinkedIn where many opportunities are posted too. Having an updated profile may attract other professionals to contact you directly as well. Organisations involved in developing Social Prescribing such as National Academy for Social Prescribing (NASP) or charity organisations providing SP services are likely to publish vacancies on their own websites. Information on Social Prescribing Providers in London can be found via our London Social Prescribing Map available here.
USEFUL RESOURCES

How to set up a proactive social prescribing service
For information on how to set up a proactive social prescribing service as part of the personalised care DES spec please see our previous event: PCN support session: Setting up a proactive social prescribing service (personalised care DES spec) Recording and slides here.

  • Resources and support to coproduce, work in partnership and target cohorts – slide 38,39
  • Slide 11-14 – detail of the personalised care des spec – what is needed
  • Proactive SP case studies – slide 26, 30
  • Next steps to implement the personalised care DES spec – slide 32

Migrant Londoners Hub. Access here.

The MLH is intended to be an online resource to help those who have recently arrived in the city to navigate it, and support Londoners with immigration needs with information about their rights.

The Migrant Londoners Hub covers dedicated information on:

  • Securing and maintaining immigration status, and what to do if an immigration application was unsuccessful
  • Information on applying for British citizenship, voting and participating in democratic life
  • Access to welfare and rights as a migrant worker in London
  • Access to healthcare, mental health and wellbeing, and Covid-19 information
  • Information on renting in London, asylum accommodation and support, and support for migrants at risk or experiencing homelessness

There is also a dedicated page with information for professionals working with migrants and refugees, including local authorities, healthcare workers, etc. It includes signposting to available resources and training.


Help with the cost of living. Access here.
The price of energy, food and bills are all rising steeply, and many Londoners are struggling to keep up with the cost of living. This hub contains information about help you can get if you’re in financial difficulty. There are services that can support you.
Help paying your billsHelp paying your debtsHelp to claim benefits and increase your incomeHelp in a crisis, Mental Health Support, Help for migrants.

Five ways to good mental wellbeing.
Good Thinking have been working with a diverse range of faith and belief communities across London to provide tailored wellbeing content and support. This includes collaborating with local councils, CCGs, charities and other organisations. In the Faith and belief communities section, you’ll find guides, videos and podcasts for specific faith and belief communities – it’s work in progress and they’ll be adding lots more content over the next few months. You might also find other Good Thinking resources, such as our self-assessment tool, free apps and COVID-19 advice hub, helpful.

U=U, undetectable = untransmissible.
London is part of the Fast-Track Cities global initiative to end new cases of HIV, stop preventable deaths and end stigma by 2030. After 40 years of living with HIV, only 1 in 5 Londoners know that people on HIV treatment cannot pass it on. Most people living in the UK with HIV are on treatment that suppresses the HIV virus, which means they can’t pass it on through sex or blood. This is known as U=U, undetectable = untransmissible.

recent survey conducted by the National AIDS Trust and Fast-Track Cities London shows that despite being one of the most progressive and diverse cities in the world, Londoners' knowledge and attitudes are stuck in the 80s when it comes to HIV! Londoners’ knowledge is based on outdated ideas, which causes unnecessary stigma and discrimination, and stops people from getting tested or, getting life-saving treatment and accessing support from the health and care and voluntary sectors. There are lots of educational materials and videos here about HIV: Can't Pass It On | Terrence Higgins Trust (tht.org.uk) 
Find out more about the Fast-Track Cities London initiative here: https://fasttrackcities.london/.


7 steps to wellbeing through volunteering: How to link to social prescribing.
The full guide expands on each point, explaining a) why it matters and b) what can be done to ensure these principles are at the heart of any volunteering programme for people who have been socially prescribed. Published on the website alongside the guide, there will also be tools and resources for organisations wanting to learn more or integrate the advice into their programme.

Co-production week. Resources available here.
National Co-production Week took place from 4 July to 9 July 2022. It celebrates the benefits of co-production, shares good practice and promotes the contribution of people who use services and carers in developing better public services. Feel free to check the information and resources here.

London Social Prescribing Network Newsletter (for voluntary organisations) Subscribe here.

Monthly news, views, insights and opportunities around London.  We encourage you to access the London Social Prescribing Network's extensive, up-to-date list of resources to help you and your practice, including explaining what social prescribing is, useful reports, research and organisations to refer people to.


London Plus Newsletter. Subscribe here.
Do you work in or with the voluntary sector in London? London Plus’s monthly newsletter includes the latest news, funding, resources, reports, and events for London’s charities & community groups. Subscribe to their mailing list here.

OTHER  EVENTS, WEBINARS AND TRAINING 

14th July 2022, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Meet the London Social Prescribing Network (for members only)Register here. The London Social Prescribing Network is excited to hold our second online networking event, free and exclusive for members only. It offers a safe space for members to drop in and chat about social prescribing. The event is participant-led, and you can help shape the agenda and themes for our next drop-in networking sessions. Register to attend here. If you want to see what's coming up at the next meeting and add any agenda items you can do so here.


19th July 2022, 3.00 pm - 4.30pm
NASP webinar: Thriving Communities Fund celebration. Register here.

Led by Wavehill, the national evaluation lead for the Thriving Communities Fund, this webinar will reflect on the achievements of the 14 projects which finished in March 2022. We will hear from a number of projects showcasing their successes and learning.

The Thriving Communities Fund supported local voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCSFE) projects that brought together innovative place-based partnerships to improve and increase the range and reach of available social prescribing community activities, especially for those most impacted by Covid-19 and health inequalities.

This webinar is open to all. Come along if you are interested to hear about innovative partnership working in social prescribing and the voluntary and community sector. You could be from the health sector, local authorities, the VCFSE, research and academia, or anyone else interested in social prescribing.


26th July 2022, 11.30am - 12.30pm
Discover or maximise the Social Prescribing Link Worker Model. Register here.

Link Worker model is a proven success story and fundamental to healthcare delivery, so how can you utilise it to deliver healthcare priorities and realise the benefits?
You can maximise impact and deliver exponential benefits to your organisation, patients, and communities if you have access to the right support, information, advice, and guidance. Join us for a chance to have your questions addressed and gain top tips.

This open lounge session is for NHS, Primary Care, Integrated Care Systems, Local government, Community Care, and VCSE, systems, strategic and operational leads. 

27th July 2022, 1.00pm - 2.00pm
Social Prescribing Link Workers Employers Forum. Register here.

Social Prescribing Link Worker employer only online forum is a Special Interest Group of National Association of Link Workers (NALW) which provides support to those with management and/or operational responsibility for their social prescribing service to gain insights, network, share and learn.

The group is open to members and non-members, is non-model or employer specific and is run quarterly by NALW's CEO, Christiana Melam. The meeting provides a non-competitive environment to share best practice and find solutions to common problems.


16th August 2022, 9.15am - 4.30pm
NHS staff: Trauma informed practice in welcoming Hong Kong arrivals. Register here.

Thrive LDN have partnered with The Nelson Trust to deliver online trauma informed training to support the mental health needs of Hongkongers living in London.

This online training has been designed to inform and up-skill participants on Trauma Informed practice and discover best practice to help them review their services. It is intended to help NHS staff including GPs, Administrative staff, Health Visitors, Nurses, Mental Health Workers, and Social Prescribers, with a particular focus on cultural humility and responsiveness.

The training will include:

  • Understanding of the dynamics of trauma and ACEs.
  • Moving from clinical to relational definitions.
  • Trauma and the brain including exploration of neurological impact.
  • Understanding of trauma and its impact in relation to Hongkongers living in UK.
  • How to communicate in a trauma informed way, fostering the five core principles of trauma informed approaches: Safety, Choice, Trustworthiness, Collaboration and Empowerment.
  • Self-Assessment tool kit

The training will begin at 9:30 and end at 16:30. There will be breaks throughout the day, including 45 minutes for lunch.


8th September 2022, 2:00pm – 3:00pm
New statutory guidance on working with people and communities. Register here.
NHS England has published new statutory guidance on working with people and communities. This webinar will explain how the guidance helps NHS commissioners and providers meet their legal duties to involve people, and supports wider health and care partners to build effective and meaningful partnerships with communities. It will also give an overview of the learning offer from NHS England to support the implementation of the guidance. 


21st September 2022
Active London 2022 – save the date.  Register your interest.
The largest conference dedicated to the future of physical activity and sport in London is back. This year's Active London theme is 'Places & Spaces', with the conference set to take place on 21 September. Full details on sessions and speakers to be announced. Register your interest.

Please continue to follow us on Twitter: London Social Prescribing Blue heart @SP_LDN and use #LondonSocialPrescribing to let us know about your Social Prescribing schemes/ projects in London!/
HEALTH INEQUALITIES
Tackling Health Inequalities. Watch here.
90% of health is impacted by social issues”

“Social Prescribing is a key part of dealing with health inequalities in London”
“We know that people's health isn’t affected by what’s happening to them physically, we know that health inequalities are there because of all the social things that are happening because of the emotional difficulties that they have”.
“Social Prescribing Link Workers are trying to support patients in terms of how they can get the best care they need, based on these social issues”

CARE COORDINATORS
& HEALTH AND WELL BEING COACHES

Please pass the following onto any Care Coordinators you know in London!

Access the London Care Coordinator Future NHS page to post on the discussion forum, access resources and events.


Calling all Health and Well Being Coaches in London

All London based HWBCs are invited to their monthly peer support event. If you know any new HWBCs in your network please introduce them to Caroline Haines (caroline.haines1@nhs.net).


If you have any SPLWs, HWBCs or CCs in your network that are not linked up to their regional support then please ask them to fill in this form.







 

The Social Prescribing Collaboration Platform is a place for Social Prescribing Link Workers (SPLWs) working with Primary Care Networks (PCNs) to access key documents and updates about Social Prescribing to support you in your role.
SPLWs can also access resources such as webinar recordings, case studies and forums to seek peer support, and link with their regional networks and colleagues. The Collaboration Platform also hosts information relevant to colleagues working as commissioners of Social Prescribing services, PCN staff and ICS/STP staff.

Email england.socialprescribing@nhs.net to join NHS England and NHS Improvement Social Prescribing Newsletter.

Healthy London Partnership Healthy London Partnership
Future NHS Collaboration Platform Future NHS Collaboration Platform
Bromley by Bow Centre Bromley by Bow Centre
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