Social Prescribing

One of the main models of working that our practitioners will be using is social prescribing.
Social Prescribing originally came from recognition of the need to have a holistic understanding of an individual, that when individuals went to their GPs with issues, sometimes these were social in nature and would not be effectively met with medical interventions. 

We encourage a more social understanding of trauma and being trauma informed. A medical model understands presenting behaviours as an issue, and looks for the cause within the individual to be ‘fixed’. A more social understanding recognises that the presenting behaviours are a communication of needs, and that these are understandable and relevant when put into the context of what the individual had been subjected to in their history – what trauma they may have experienced. 

This approach also discourages a formulated approach when practitioners recognised trauma symptoms, instead encouraging presenting a range of options for the young people, empowering them, and supporting them to be able to choose paths for themselves

With this move from clinical to a range of interventions, we are not trying to shut down, or state that some interventions aren’t relevant or effective, rather it’s understanding that each young person’s journey will be individual, and that they may wish to engage in activities that can help them feel safe, connected, and grow confidence before wishing to or even being able to engage with more intensive levels of support.