1. B&H CCG PLS Conference 5th April 2017
Community Navigation:
the Brighton & Hove approach to social prescribing
B&H CCG PLS Conference 5th April 2017
Clair Farenden (Community Navigation Service

2. Social prescribing is a means of enabling primary care services to refer patients with social, emotional or practical needs to a range of local, non-clinical services, often provided by the voluntary and community sector. AgeUK

3. What is Community Navigation?
Helps patients with social and emotional needs, e.g. low level depression, bereavement, social isolation, financial difficulties
57% of patients referred are over 55 and experiencing anxieties about their medical conditions or wellbeing
Community Navigation enables people to access non-medical services, groups and activities that meet their wide health and wellbeing needs

4. How does it work?
Patient is referred by a primary care health professional or Care Coach
Community Navigator meets the person in a confidential space, either in surgery or at home
Initial assessment = guided conversation (1 hour appt.)
Offer a range of options and facilitate referral
Following up after agreed amount of time
Usually 1 or 2 face to face appts. with follow up phone calls.
A record of onward referrals made and outcomes sent to surgery

5. Signposting vs facilitated referral
What is signposting?
Signposting means providing contact details and a simple description of a service, i.e. giving basic information you could expect to see on a leaflet or website.
The patient has responsibility for contacting the services and making any necessary arrangements
NB. Signposting is regarded as ineffective for vulnerable people, e.g. those with poor mental health, social isolation, multiple health needs.

6. Signposting vs facilitated referral
What is facilitated referral?
A facilitated referral uses a number of methods to help the client access the service or activity they need, e.g. researching info about an activity or service, filling in a form, making an appointment etc.
The adviser has responsibility for contacting the services and making any necessary arrangements. Especially effective for vulnerable people
To facilitate = to make (an action or process) easy or easier.

7. Evidence about Community Navigation
393 patients were referred across 16 surgeries during the first 12 months of the pilot, with 741 referrals were made to groups, services and activities patients would not have otherwise accessed.
The service attracted highly experienced and skilled volunteers, most had a previous or current career in healthcare, social services, teaching or counselling.
93% of patients said they had all the information they needed to address their issue
Patients reported 98% satisfaction with the service saying they felt listened to and understood.
GPs & Practice staff reported 89% satisfaction with the quality of the Community Navigator service; 95% said the service is effective at providing a referral route to non-medical services, 87% reporting it as effective at improving the wellbeing of patients.

8. Evidence about Community Navigation
Main presenting issues

9. Evidence about Community Navigation
Facilitated referrals made to:
Social groups (18%)
Exercise (10%)
Finance & benefits (8%)
Mental Health Services (7%)
Learning, classes & course (7%)
Older Peoples’ Services (6%)
Housing (5%)
Befriending (5%)

10. Key Benefits of Community Navigation
*Promotes & improves wellbeing
*Prevents loneliness & isolation
*Prevents decline of mental health
*Promotes resilience and independence
Releases GP surgery time spent with patients on non-medical issues
Provides access to the right services at the right time
Key Benefits of Community
Navigation

11. The Story so far… Began in August 2014
Volunteer CNs with a background in health & social care, teaching, counselling etc.
High quality standards; Training, supervision and ongoing support
Tried and tested model, developed over time.
Recently added a home visit service for surgeries without space and patients with mobility issues
Facilitated referral might involve finding further information, filling in forms, making an appointment on their behalf, liaising with agency staff, planning journeys

12. Next Steps… Expanding citywide Links with GP clusters
Further developing the home visit service
Working closely with other social prescribers
Could potentially complement the enhanced receptionist role
Further evaluation
CCG recognise CN as the model of SP in primary care in B&H and have funded its expansion citywide
Expanding from 14 to around 40 practices over next few months

13. Workshop
In your groups, read the case studies and discuss the following…
What impact does this person have on your surgery, e.g. on receptionist, PM, GP time / resources
What do you think this person needs?
Discuss as many case studies as you can and note down answers to feed back to the whole group

14. Evidence and contacts
For more information and to download our evaluation :
Impetus Community Navigation Service
Clair Farenden (Service Manager)
Alex Brining & Mel Pickett (Navigation Coordinators)