We are now in the 5th year of delivering our Social Prescribing Plus service to residents of Brighton and Hove. This service provides timely, valuable support to those who need it most. Here is a recent example of the support the service provides.
Service User P is a single mum with 3 children.
She had been growing increasingly frustrated at problems with communicating with local services and had been missing a lot of appointments because she cannot read messages and letters.
These issues as well as financial struggles had been causing a lot of stress and anxiety for Service User P. She wanted help with her financial situation and to find a job which would not require a high level of English.
She had also been suffering from back and neck pain due to stress. Her GP referred her to physiotherapy treatments but she had been waiting to be seen for over a year. Recently she received a letter saying that, because she never called to ask for an appointment, her name had been taken off the list.
Having discussed the situation fully with Service User P and made an action plan, our Social Prescriber
- Referred Service User P to the Multicultural Employability Support Hub where she could benefit from some advice and support, including help with writing a CV. She also can volunteer at the Monday drop-in sessions with the Senior Engagement Worker there.
- Referred Service User P for volunteering at the Real Junk Food Project on Thursdays, where she can help with cooking and serving free/low-cost food.
- Helped with understanding the coaching plan set for SU by the Pre-Employment Support (Jobcentre).
- As requested by Service User P, contacted her daughter’s school and asked for any volunteering or cleaning job opportunities.
- Helped with sorting out an overpayment to Vodafone
- Made a referral to Southern Water’s affordability team to ask for support in paying her water bill.
- Helped Service User P and BHCC Move on Mentor to review the Discretionary Housing payments to extend the support she is receiving from the Council
- Helped with registering to vote
- Made a referral to Physiotherapy treatments
- Once Service User P had explained that she is the Carer for her 20 year old son, explained that she can get some support as a Carer. An Advocacy case was then opened to support her with a referral to the Carers Hub.
Service User P said: ‘’Where to start? I feel like you are a family or a friend I can count on. I don’t speak any English and as a single mum of 3, it was very difficult to deal with so many things without your support. You helped me access lot of services and made me discover and know about what support is available out there for me. Thank you so much.”
