British Red Cross launches their Social Pathways to Better Mental Health project

The pilot will operate across two sites; Pembrokeshire and
Caerphilly with referrals being accepted from the Welsh Ambulance
Service across both pilot sites and, for the Caerphilly pilot,
three GP practices.

The service itself will see BRC providing one-to-one intensive
support to individuals for up to 12 weeks, with the Pembrokeshire
pilot site also trialling out of hours support and the Caerphilly
pilot trialling telephone support, once face to face support has
ceased.

From its existing work with frequent attenders BRC know that the
people often inappropriately use NHS & 999 emergency services
not because of any acute medical need but because of a whole host
of often social factors.

Through the new BRC social prescribing service, and using the
‘What Matters’ conversation, individuals will be supported by Link
Co-ordinators to identify the real underlying causes of their
regular use of NHS & emergency services.

Building on the existing resilience of the individual and
through the provision of emotional support, confidence building,
signposting and supported referral, individuals will then be
empowered to connect into community-based resources that will help
them to better manage their health & well-being and reduce
their use of health & emergency services. Staff are now in post
and the service is now live.

For more information on the service please contact the
Link Co-ordinators:

Nicola Wannell, Pembrokeshire Link Co-ordinator – NWannell@redcross.org.uk,
01239 615945

Gareth Lewis, Caerphilly Link Co-ordinator – GarethLewis@redcross.org.uk,
02920 695744

Emma Walker, Caerphilly Link Co-ordinator – GemmaWalker@redcross.org.uk,
02920 695744