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Social Prescribing and Care Coordination
Social Prescribers and Personalised Care Coordinators provide non-clinical wellbeing support for patients of Ammonite Health Partnership, Lyme Bay Medical Practice and Barton House Medical Practice.
Stay updated on our events
Want to hear about our latest health and wellbeing events?
For details of upcoming blood pressure clinics, community activities, and other events, look out for posters in the surgery waiting rooms or around town, follow our team on Facebook or visit our News section.
From time to time, we may also send an invitation (usually by text or email) about specific events or clinics that we believe could be of particular benefit to you.
Social prescribing for adults
Who we are
We know that taking care of our health involves more than just medicine. We focus on personalised care and concentrate on what matters to you.
Social Prescribing gives people the opportunity to make connections in their area for support, new activities or ways to help boost their wellbeing in a non-medical way. Patients are connected to community groups and statutory services for practical and emotional support.
We are a social prescribing service for people over 18 years old living in West Dorset.
This service is for you if
- You need support for mental and physical health issues such as anxiety, smoking cessation and healthy eating
- You are feeling isolated and want assistance in becoming more involved in your community
- You are struggling with work, housing or money worries
What we help with
- Mild to Moderate Mental Health Concerns
- Managing Long Term Conditions
- Emotional Wellbeing & Life Changing Events
- Loss of Confidence / Purpose
- Carer Support
- Chronic Pain
- Healthy Lifestyle Choices
- Work, Housing or Money Worries
When you are referred
- Your Link Worker will call you to have a chat about the service and arrange a first appointment.
- At your first appointment you'll be able to talk about your life, how things are going and share what's important to you.
- This will enable you to develop a plan together to work toward better health and wellbeing.
- Your Link Worker will connect you to organisations and sources of support in the community and refer you to other organisations where agreed and appropriate.
- You will work with your Link Worker for around six sessions over an agreed time scale of up to a year.
Social prescribing for children and young people
Who we are
We are a social prescribing service for children and young people living in West Dorset.
Social Prescribing gives young people the opportunity to make connections in their area for support, new activities or ways to help boost their wellbeing in a non-medical way.
These connections are made with the help of a Link Worker who gets to know the individual, and what's most important to them.
It's all about empowering someone to make positive choices and changes to improve their overall wellbeing.
This service is for you if
- You are under 18
- Whether you are in school, college, or exploring your next steps, this service is designed to support you.
- If you are experiencing anxiety, low mood, or stress, we can help you find ways to manage and improve your wellbeing.
- We also offer support if you are thinking about quitting smoking, adopting healthier eating habits, or becoming more physically active.
- This is a confidential and supportive service tailored specifically for children and young people. You do not need to have all the answers - we are here to listen and help you access the right support for your needs.
What we help with
- Anxiety and worry
- Self esteem and body image
- Friendship and relationship worries
- Hobbies and interests
- Healthy lifestyle choices including sleep
- Feelings of loneliness
- Future planning
- Self-confidence
- Signposting to support for families of younger children
When you are referred
- Your Link Worker will call you to have a chat about the service and arrange a first appointment.
- At your first appointment you'll be able to talk about your life, how things are going and share what's important to you.
- This will enable you to develop a plan together to work toward better health and wellbeing.
- Your Link Worker will connect you to organisations and sources of support in the community and refer you to other organisations where agreed and appropriate.
- You will work with your Link Worker for around six sessions over an agreed time scale of up to a year.
Personalised care coordinator service
Who we are
We know that taking care of our health involves more than just medicine. We focus on personalised care and concentrate on what matters to you.
Your Care Coordinator will work with you to create a care and support plan that is centred around what matters to you.
By getting to know you and your personal situation, your Care Coordinator can support you in navigating the health system and accessing additional local support and services. They can work closely with your care givers and the important people in your life to make sure you receive the best possible care.
This service is for you if
- You are over 18
- You need help finding your way around different health, social care and support services
- You have one or more long term conditions (e.g. diabetes, asthma, COPD, CVD, dementia, chronic pain)
What we help with
- Cancer support
- Unpaid carer support
- Care and support signposting
- All long term conditions
- Isolation and loneliness
- Physical health support
When you are referred
- When you are first referred your Care Coordinator will call you to have a chat about the service and arrange a first appointment.
- At your first appointment you'll be able to talk about your life, how things are going and share what's important to you.
- This will enable you to develop a Personalised Care and Support Plan together to work towards better managing your health and wellbeing.
- Your Care Coordinator will keep in touch with you over a number of months and help to support you along the way with the steps listed on your care plan.
Social Prescribing is available at your GP Surgery
If you live in Bridport, Beaminster, Lyme Regis or the wider West Dorset area, you can speak directly with our Social Prescribers and Care Coordinators - no referral needed.
To refer yourself:
- Support with finances
- Getting Active
- Hobbies and Interests
- Connecting to Community
- Supporting wellbeing
- Help with Long Term Conditions
Our current and future projects include
- Improving access and support for unpaid carers
- Proactive work with food poverty community organisations
- Offering support to newly diagnosed cancer patients and helping people to access routine cancer screening
- Support for people with diabetes, including group consultations sessions and support for pre-diabetics via the NDPP
- Home monitoring for patients with hypertension
- Support for patients with CVD including group consultations
- Supporting isolated and lonely patients with a penfriend system in collaboration with Active Dorset as a part of their Active Trailblazer programme.
- Supporting patients to improved their digital literacy and ability to access resources and home monitoring using digital tools.
Support and resources
Looking for more helpful information?
The team has put together easy-to-read guides and resource sheets on a range of topics - from managing long-term conditions to staying active and healthy.
Browse our patient information
If you need urgent support for your mental health or other immediate help, please see the useful contacts listed below.