What is the Rotherham Social Prescribing Service?

The Rotherham Social Prescribing Service (RSPS) is a service targeted at adults in Rotherham aged 18 plus who are identified as needing additional non-medical support to maintain and improve health and wellbeing. Referrals into the service can only come from health practitioners working in Primary Care Networks (PCNs), community respiratory services, community mental health services or hospital teams discharging patients home.

The service is based at Voluntary Action Rotherham and consists of a Service Manager, an Administration & Support Officer and a team of Social Prescribers (known as VCS Advisors). 

The main aim of the service is to improve the mental and physical health of people by addressing social factors that can lead to worsening health and wellbeing; supporting people to become more socially connected, independent, confident, resilient and able to self-care. People accessing the service have been found to be more likely to continue living at home independently and become less dependent on statutory health and social care services in the longer term.

The service operates in close in partnership with health and adult social care teams to improve patient outcomes by engaging with people before they experience significant health deterioration or crisis point is reached. This is done by supporting the planning of integrated and proactive care for people living in the community who are at high risk of:

• Unplanned hospital admissions and readmissions

• Attending accident and emergency

• Becoming dependent on mental health services

• Worsening physical and psychological health

• Being admitted into residential care prematurely

The Social Prescribers in the RSPS team offer people advice on a wide range of community, statutory and public services in Rotherham and contact services on people’s behalf when needed. They also offer supported referrals to a range of voluntary and community services, commissioned by the service to deliver direct support where people need it most. Commissioned services, many delivered in people’s homes, include practical help such as advocacy and help to check benefits and claim benefits; social support may include befrienders and enablers who can spend time with people taking them out or to join social groups or light exercise opportunities; emotional support may include lower-level counselling or bereavement support groups.

The Rotherham Social Prescribing Service is commissioned and funded by NHS South Yorkshire Integrated Care Board.