Social Prescribing is a non-medical approach to improve people’s overall health and wellbeing.
Social Prescribers support individuals through a holistic, person-centred approach, to access services that are important for that individual. Such as community groups and statutory services which might be run by the council or a local charity, activities and advice services. They can help in a variety of ways with all the following issues.
- Loneliness & Isolation
- Health & Lifestyle management
- Carers support
- Bereavement
- Housing issues
- Money worries
- Employment support
- Living Independent Support
- Access to Local Community
- Substance misuse
They connect people to community groups for practical and emotional support. For example, signposting people who have been diagnosed with dementia to local dementia support groups.
Our Social Prescriber
Kathryn Sasaru
Kathryn completed her Level 3 Health and Social Care Diploma in 2015, and Social Prescribing training through the National Association of Link Workers in 2021. She has since continued her professional training and now has an extensive CPD accredited portfolio ranging from Motivational interviewing and Health Coaching to Dementia. She also has extensive training in Suicide Intervention and Prevention, Mental Capacity, and is a Suicide First Aider.
Kathryn started her journey into Social Prescribing in 2021 at the Walsall East PCN. In Walsall the service was relatively new, and the benefits of engaging with her support were not known to clinicians or their patients. Here she had the opportunity to develop the service from the bottom and showcase the positive impact the role can have on those with non-medical support needs. She would work with patients on a one-to-one basis over a number of weeks, taking the time to listen to what is important to them, what their strengths are, what intervention is needed and the barriers to this. She would then collaboratively complete a goal orientated, person-centred, and holistic care and support plan, while carrying out regular reviews so the patients felt involved and supported throughout the process.
Prior to this Kathryn began her career in healthcare at the age of 17 as a Support Worker at the Manor Hospital in 2016 where she was able to develop her clinic skills and knowledge and complete her Care Certificate and Diploma in Clinical Healthcare.
In 2018 she progressed into the role of Senior Mental Health Support Worker at an acute inpatient Psychiatric Unit. In her previous role she would work with patients who were in extreme physiological and emotional distress to complete a therapeutic care plan to aid their recovery. This included interventions around relaxation and grounding techniques, and well-being support sessions that supported individuals to manage and express difficult or overwhelming thoughts, emotions, or behaviours.
Kathryn has continued with her passion for Mental Health, she is able to support individuals with low level mental health problems to understand and overcome stigmas and barriers related to accessing support. The skills that she has gained from her work in Mental Health are a great advantage to her current job as a Social Prescriber.
Social Prescribing looks at wider determinants of care and empowers individuals to access community support to improve their overall health, wellbeing, and independence. Reasons for referrals include; Housing or Financial concerns, Carers support, Bereavement, Loneliness and Isolation, Independent Living, complex Care or Social needs, Long Term Health conditions, Domestic Abuse, Immigration, Food Vouchers, Cancer Support, Accessing local community, Addiction, Employment, Family support.
Kathryn hopes to be able to continue making a positive difference in the lives of the patients she supports, while also continuing to develop her personal and professional skill set. Eventually, Kathryn hopes to progress into management so that she can continue supporting others to develop and deliver an effective Social Prescribing service.