Social Prescribing - Healthtrainers: Delivering positive health outcomes.

Your CommunityLink worker can support you to improve self-care in the following areas:

One or more physical long term conditions
Smoking
Drug and Alcohol Awareness
Weight Management
Physical Activity
Social Isolation
Emotional Wellbeing (low level stress and anxiety)
Carer support
Welfare support
Sexual Health
Relationships

Or any area that is affecting your wellbeing that is a non-medical issue but is affecting your ability to self-care and stay well.

The role of CommunityLink workers

CommunityLink workers are there to offer individualised, personal support and motivation to adults across East Riding who may require personalised solutions to social, emotional or practical needs that will empower each individual person accessing the service to empower self, leading to improvements in their health and wellbeing.

We all have issues in our lives which may affect our health in some way. You may want to improve your confidence, improve the management of your financial position, work on a relationship, know where to go for information relating to social care, you may care for a loved one and need guidance to manage your own wellbeing, or just generally feel better about yourself.

We understand that there are many things that can be affect our ability to feel healthy and remain independent. CommunityLink workers will create individualised personal wellbeing plans.

Your personal wellbeing plan will be developed by you and your community link worker. The CommunityLink worker will offer support, guidance, help and motivation to proactively improve your wellbeing.

CommunityLink workers are friendly, understanding and supportive. They will help and encourage you to achieve your goals.

Who are CommunityLink workers?

CommunityLink workers are people like you. They have been recruited from the community, bringing with them a range of skills, experience and local knowledge.

CommunityLink workers come from a variety of backgrounds. They have the knowledge and experience of living and working in the community and they understand how difficult it can be to make heathy choices sometimes or manage your own health needs.

CommunityLink workers have undergone extensive training and they keep up to date with all the latest health information. Based in general practice they will be on hand to offer direct information, guidance and support when you next visit your GP or practice nurse. They will be out and about at public events to give out information and support you.

CommunityLink workers will help you set achievable goals, develop your personal wellbeing plan, identify and overcome barriers and provide ongoing encouragement and support. They know the local area and can put you in touch with local services, community groups, support and self-help groups, social care and much more.

CommunityLink workers can spend up to an hour with you at each meeting, to help signpost and guide you to gain the right help, support and information that is required for you to improve your wellbeing. Telephone support is also available or home visits if required.

CommunityLink workers are not qualified to give medical advice. If you have a high – risk medical condition e.g. heart problem or uncontrolled high blood pressure. You are advised to see your GP or practice nurse before making any major lifestyle changes.

How do I seek the support of a CommunityLink worker?

They will be based in your general practice and you can be referred by your medical professional, adult social care or hospital discharge team.

Call: 0800 9177752
Email: HNF-TR.Healthtrainers@nhs.net
Why not follow us: @SPrescribingER1

Case Studies

Bernard

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Bernard was previously in the Army. After Bernard came out of the Army he was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Bernard was living in a flat with his wife provided by the council. The lady living above Bernard and his wife was constantly shouting, screaming, throwing things and had a dog that barked the majority of the day and night.

View the Case Study

David

Health

David was living alone in his house and his brother discovered that his house was very unclean, there was unopened letters all over and David was not taking care of himself. David’s brother was unsure why and how David had gotten himself into this state.

View the Case Study

Kathleen

Physical Injury

Kathleen worked in a prison with a very physical job and had a nasty fall at work on a wet floor sign that had been left on the floor. Kathleen badly damaged her arm which left her unable to move it from the shoulder downwards. Kathleen had to have an operation which went wrong and left her worse off.

View the Case Study

Testimonials

“

I met Lisa though a referral from my GP to help me with my anxiety and depression, Lisa was very polite and kind when I first met her.

Which was nice because I was an emotional wreck and I actually opened up about it all and I surprised myself, Lisa was very helpful, we spoke about all sorts about how I was to what I would like to do. Lisa has put me in touch with emotional and social support, health trainers and the leisure centre. I have been going to CBT, and Health Trainers every 2 weeks and I have joined the GYM and are going 4 times a week. Lisa has helped me feel better in myself and is always there is I need extra support and guidance. I am glad that I was referred community link I am happy to continue seeing Lisa till I am better in myself with my anxiety and depression.

“

Since a referral from my GP I have been having regular one to one sessions with Lisa that has really helped me cope with the loss of my mum on 24 February 2018.

I was referred to Mind for bereavement counselling after my first session with Lisa on the 4 April but the first appointment with Mind wasn’t until the 27 April and then there was a mix up with the meeting place so I didn’t get to see anybody from Mind that day. The next appointment with Mind was made on 23 May with Clare which I attended but I didn’t find very helpful and she told me that during the next meeting I would have to go back through what had happened regarding my mum.

Today I attended a meeting with Clare from Mind and I informed her from the outset of the meeting that I was too upset to go back through what happened regarding my mum and to put it on hold. I then attended my one to one with Lisa who I find is a good listener and understands my situation better than Clare because Lisa was there from the start when I needed the help.

I feel that Mind has taken too long to help me when I needed them the most and that local GP’s should have someone there when a bereaved person needs them and not just to be put on a waiting list for Mind.

I think the service Lisa is providing works well for me and will continue to use the service for the support I need.

“

I had heard about health trainers before but was nervous about calling and unsure what it entailed. Then I attended an active coast event and the health trainers were there, I had a chat and was given the number for Jess.

The first meeting I explained that I had been very ill in January and it had given me a bit of fright and on reflecting on my lifestyle identified that I needed to get outside more and spend less time at my desk (eating biscuits and cakes).

I hate exercising so knew that was going to be hard to achieve so changed that goal to getting outside. I did that for a few weeks then changed it to being active outside – gardening, walking the dog, going to the beach, walking to the shops, visiting gardens.

Having someone to answer to was the thing I found most beneficial, closely followed by someone to listen to me and encourage.

I have now been playing netball for 8 weeks and loving it even though it’s more than 3 decades since I last played. It has given me a focus outside the family and work and a chance to socialise as well as doing something I enjoy that doesn’t feel like exercise. With gentle encouragement Jess suggested I now tried the yoga class I talked about trying in the first session.

I have been thinking and talking about going to yoga for 18 months and this week I went for the first time and it was not scary at all but relaxing and energising. I’m going again this week.

Each week I could run a bit faster, play netball a bit longer, stretch a bit further and craved cakes and biscuits a little bit less.

I’ve even lost 6 pound in weight over my 12 week programme even though that wasn’t one of my goals, a very welcome bonus.

“

Without this service I would not be where I am today, you have been the person that has been able to communicate with my doctors, housing and benefits helped me as a person, financially and medically, I now feel I can see the GP and leave I can separate mental health from physical health issue. It has been life changing for me.

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Office Hours : We are open: Monday – Friday 8am-8pm
Saturday 9am-3pm.