Are you involved in a project that supports people's health and wellbeing through nature? For example, do you help to run a community garden, a walking group or outdoor mental health sessions?
If so, our new guidance explains what you need to put in place to accept social prescribing referrals safely, for people with different levels of mental health need.
The new Green Social Prescribing Practitioner Guidance is designed to offer clear, practical support for providers and practitioners who are receiving referrals through Green Social Prescribing, helping to reduce risk and ensure people are connected to the right activity, at the right time, in the right way.
It sets out foundational principles to help providers:
• Describe their offer clearly and consistently to social prescribing link workers so they can make safe, appropriate referrals
• Establish safe and effective processes for receiving referrals and exchanging essential information with Social Prescribing Link Workers
• Manage induction, supervision, ongoing assessment and dynamic risk management for participants
• Identify legal obligations relevant to providers
• Consider the core competencies and skills needed by practitioners and provider organisations
• Plan for supervision, training, continuous professional development and quality improvement for practitioners, with links to sector resources that support consistent standards
Supported by the cross-Government Green Social Prescribing programme, this new resource builds on the expertise of Thrive and other nature providers.
Have questions concerning the guidance?
We are holding a webinar on the 29th of June to showcase the new guidance to providers and healthcare referrers and provide the opportunity to raise questions. You can submit questions you have concerning the guidance below to be answered during the webinar.
