During Carers Week (8-14 June), we are highlighting how social prescribing can help unpaid carers access support that is both practical and emotional, and based within the community. Underpinning this is the need to successfully build carer friendly communities, based on strong partnerships between social prescribing services, carers centres and the voluntary and community sector.
Caring for a loved one can knock you off track, especially if it is unexpected and cannot be solved with a medical prescription. As an unpaid carer you may find yourself isolated, burdened and struggling financially, which over time can have a major impact on mental and physical health.
How can social prescribing help carers?
If you are an unpaid carer, social prescribing helps you to take part in social activities or get practical support to improve health and wellbeing. From befriending services to debt advice, gardening groups to art clubs, it is based on what matters to you. You can call your GP practice and ask about social prescribing in your area and there are also other ways to find out about activities and groups for yourself or a loved one.
Carer friendly communities
This year’s campaign for Carers Week calls for better recognition and support for unpaid carers. This includes creating carer friendly communities which are defined as places, spaces, services, and community groups where unpaid carers are recognised, understood, and valued.
There are 5.8 million unpaid carers according to the campaign organisers, led by Carers UK and supported by other charities including Carers Trust and Age UK. Carers who provide support to family members, friends and loved ones can often be overlooked and unsupported when faced with challenges such as health, wellbeing, work, relationships, and education.
Carer friendly communities can help to change this, making support part of everyday life.
How can carers centres work with social prescribing teams?
If you work in a carers centre, you or your colleagues may already provide a form of social prescribing, where a dedicated worker finds out what matters to a carer and helps them get the support they need. However, there are likely to be opportunities to work closely with local Social Prescribing Link Workers or Community Connectors.
Link workers may be able to identify and refer carers into your services, or they may be able to connect carers to a range of wider services and opportunities in the community.
To find out more about how to work in partnership with social prescribing teams, download this useful resource.
How can social prescribing teams work with carers?
Health and social care teams, including link workers, can play an important role in identifying and supporting carers. According to Carers UK, it takes two years on average for someone to recognise that they are a carer. As a result, they can miss out on vital support.
This resource from Carers Trust, Carers UK and VCSE Health and Wellbeing Alliance is aimed at health and care professionals, focusing on how to support unpaid carers – both at a wider system level and on an individual basis.
Carers Trust have also produced top tips and examples of good practice for social prescribing aimed at commissioners and voluntary sector organisations.
Last month, NASP also ran an online webinar with practical tips and advice for Social Prescribing Link Workers and other professionals supporting people with long-term conditions.
