-OUR PROJECTS-

Social
Prescribing
in probation

PROJECT MISSION

Social Prescribing in Probation transitions the principles of Social Prescribing into the sphere of probation, addressing health inequalities and the wider determinants of health by supporting people on probation with their non-clinical needs and by connecting them to sources of help and support within local communities. It takes a holistic ‘whole person’ approach to health and social care asking, ‘what matters to you?’ to create a shared plan to support people to take control of their health and wellbeing. The service is non-mandatory for people on probation and as such requires a service user to want to engage in the support that the service offers.

PROJECT OBJECTIVES

ONE-TO-ONE SUPPORT

We will provide wider, holistic support to people on probation. The project aims to support PoP who would benefit from a broader range of holistic support, connecting them with a range of services and organisations in their local community and supporting them to access a variety of services.

ONE ROUTE INTO THE COMMUNITY

The pilot aims to support those people on probation who need support with
reintegrating to society to access services, providing one direct link into the variety of community services. Our Social Prescribing Link Workers will work with the PoP, using their vast knowledge of the community environment to link a PoP to services they need.

USER-FOCUSED SUPPPORT

We will work with a PoP during a series of appointments to identify health and wellbeing needs, identify what support is needed, and discuss the various support streams available to a PoP. Our support is led by the PoP, with the question, ‘what matters to you?’ to support the PoP to take control of their health and wellbeing.

REDUCING SYSTEMIC PRESSURES

The pilot aims to free up capacity within the Probation Service to allow a Probation Practitioner to focus on their role, whilst a Social Prescribing Link Worker can support with the broader holistic and community support, in linking into community support. We aim to reduce pressures on the Probation Service and Criminal Justice System through reduced reoffending.

WHO RUNS
THE PILOT?

The Social Prescribing in Probation Service is hosted by Voluntary Action South West Surrey (VASWS), which has also hosted the Guildford and Waverley Social Prescribing Service since 2019. The Social Prescribing Service has supported the communities of Guildford and Waverley, by addressing the impacts on the wider determinants of health, and linking individuals into appropriate community support. The Guildford and Waverley Service operates on a Primary Care Network (PCN) level, working in East Guildford, East Waverley and West of Waverley. For more information on our PCN Service, click here.

Voluntary Action South West Surrey is the Council for Voluntary Service for Guildford and Waverley. Our membership, made up of voluntary and community groups, is in excess of 600 organisations. We run a Volunteer Centre which provides a volunteer recruitment service to over 400 organisations, as well as residents in Guildford and Waverley who can find out about volunteering roles and about the services provided by the voluntary sector.

Having an overview of the voluntary activity in our area means we can see where the gaps are and can help identify where groups could work together. Because we work with voluntary organisations, local authorities, local health services and individuals, and because we have run community projects and facilitated others in setting up new community groups, we are in a unique position of having experience of what services local people need, what is already being provided and where the gaps are.

The Social Prescribing in Probation Pilot is run in conjunction with the Guildford Probation Service, and Surrey County Council, who are funding the 18-month pilot.