Connect Well The Social Prescribing Project in Mid Essex East of England Social Prescribing Network Inaugural Conference February 2017

Connect Well 380,000+ population 46 GP practices 52 square miles Partnership of over 23 organisations across Mid Essex £426 million NHS budget (2015/16) 2 tier local Authority – Essex County Council, Braintree, Chelmsford & Maldon districts

It started with partnership working Community wide mapping led by the three local CVS’s – Summer 2014 Linked to common public health issues – locality profiles Multi-agency workshops Research and straw man design – Talking Health Developed a social prescribing proposal set against some key principles

What was agreed The aims of Social Prescribing in Mid Essex are to: Achieve more appropriate use of health and social services Improve health and well being outcomes for residents in mid Essex Enable residents to be proactive in managing their own health conditions and well being Maximise the use of community assets and build on the use of volunteers and existing voluntary services so that people can access the right support Be accessible to as many people as possible within the community

Key principles of Connect Well 16 key principles by which the operating model works Utilise key existing communities assets including people, systems, processes and intellectual capital as well as adopt an ABCD approach Delivery model was co-designed with frontline staff - 40 organisations Reporting to multi-agency board PDSA model of continual delivery and quality improvement Train the trainer model to roll out

Web based signposting Worked in partnership with Colchester CVS Utilised existing platform Essex Connects Codesigned with VC Connects, Sheffield – wider use in Kent & Basildon Upgraded for social prescribing Live referral management system – every signpost referral is checked

Connect Well Platform Over 100 provider organisations Over 270 activities – growing weekly Providers sign pledge to quality assure their response to Connect Well and referrals they receive Champions can signpost directly to providers using Connect Well

Why is Connect Well are different? Resident Customer Patient Client Social prescribing Champion Level 1 Empowered signposting Work One to one on personal solutions Level 2 Social Prescriber

Connect Well Champions 400 trained Champions across 23 organisations – including social care, libraries, district councils etc as well a GP practices Lead empowered signposting All trained – use train the trainer model Making Every Contact Count – Essex County Council Public Health driven Log in issued – tracking Codesign workshops & update briefings

Higher level social prescribers PROVIDE Community provider Embedded in existing public health contract – Essex wide Health coach trained Work 1 to 1 basis and case manage Equivalent to traditional model of social prescribing Outcomes measured

Partnership designed and delivered Multi partners manage through operating group and Partnership Board Links to wider mid Essex Live Well brand Working across geographical & organisational boundaries Common goals for health and well-being

Evaluation Essex wide and local Mid Essex formal evaluations Using PDSA model so changing and improving operating model as we progress Is not easily measured in same way as traditional models of social prescribing – challenges for quantitative evaluation Focus on qualitative Added value of training of Champions

Challenges we face Manageability of whole population approach – number of champions, volume of work Use of the signposting tool – encouragement and embedding Continued commitment and enthusiasm of key partners Engagement of primary care Governance – including data sharing & working across systems Funding – it’s a very cost effective model but ongoing sustainability still an issue

Benefits of Connect Well Culture change model – health is everyone’s business Whole population - needed for cost benefit pay back Simple – can be spread widely Consistent – can roll out model without compromising quality Supports all partners – whole system culture change Builds on strengths of local communities Captures data and outcomes for future commissioning

Next Steps for Connect Well STPs and Success Regime in Mid & South Essex Launch of self-referral Education & promotion – culture change Primary & secondary care – more GP practices & community/hospital staff Maintain existing partnerships & support Champions Strategic support for local and community voluntary sector and then…

Before doing more of the same……

Thank you! Siân Brand Programme Manager Connect Well, social prescribing Mid Essex sianbrand@livingsafeandwell.co.uk Mob: 07724396670 Landline: 01245 351888