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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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 organisations
Reporting to multi-agency board
PDSA model of continual delivery and quality improvement
Train the trainer model to roll out

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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…

16. Before doing more of the same……

17. Thank you!
Siân Brand Programme Manager Connect Well, social prescribing Mid Essex Mob: Landline: