The Community Trust’s social prescribing programme has been entered for a HSJ award.
The annual HSJ Partnership Awards shine a light on the crucial contributions of the private and third sector in strengthening the UK’s healthcare system.
Thr1ve Children and Young People’s Social Prescribing Service has been nominated in the category ‘Most Effective Contribution to Integrated Health and Care’.
Thr1ve is based at Chesterfield FC Community Trust, where a team of four link workers, project manager and occupational therapist offer support to children and young people to improve their mental health through access to community services and physical activity.
Thr1ve’s mission is to offer light touch, short-term support for young people, so they can live their best life, their way, by building confidence, independence and increased participation through individualised goal-setting around what matters to them.
The Community Trust’s community manager, Jayne Bacon, said: “A lot of work went into putting our nomination together and we worked closely with our partners at Derbyshire Voluntary Action and Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Foundation Trust (DCHS) to produce a really good application.
“The three of us – together with North Hardwick and Bolsover Primary Care Network – have come together over the past two years to develop social prescribing for young people. It is the strength of this partnership that we’ve highlighted in our HSJ nomination.”
Helen Burke, specialist school nurse practitioner for Mental Health & DCHS Social Prescribing project lead, said: “Partners have worked closely from the outset to produce a very strong nomination for the prestigious HSJ Awards.
“The nomination showcases the great work of Thr1ve Children and Young People’s Social Prescribing Service and the relationship forged with school nursing teams from DCHS (Children’s Services).
“It also demonstrates that with partners working collaboratively and creatively across different sectors, new referral pathways have been developed with school nurses to ensure young people are receiving the support they need at a time of unprecedented demand for mental health services. This deserves to be recognised at a national level.”
Rachel Reece, young people specialist occupational therapist at DCHS, said: “The partnership highlights what it means to be young person led as an integrated health and care service.
“Health and wellbeing are not limited to a clinic or hospital setting – it is most importantly about a young person’s environment and building their confidence within it.
“Early intervention is always better than being reactive and it is our aim for young people to recognise their potential through what they enjoy doing to become more independent and confident in everyday life.”
Jacqui Willis, Derbyshire Voluntary Action’s chief executive, added: “Nominating Thr1ve for the award has given us the opportunity to reflect on the determination and hard work that has gone into establishing and building the service.
“It’s great to think that the work of all the partners will be recognised and celebrated at national level. The announcement of the next stage comes in December – please cross your fingers for us!”
The finalists will be announced on Monday, December 5.
