Communication and Engagement
Staff Training and Awareness
As part of any new referral pathway communicating the new process is critical for successful implementation. Staff training and awareness of the referral pathway will be required to make sure everyone throughout the process is aware of each step. Social Prescribing is identified as a core ingredient to applying a Realistic Medicine approach across the NHS Grampian workforce. When considering a new social prescribing project it would be advised to make contact with NHS Grampian Realistic Medicine Team to see what support can be offered to raise the profile of social prescribing.
Communication with GP Practice Patient Population
A Communication and Engagement Plan can be found at Appendix 2 it is also useful for it to be included as part of the Business Case for the project. The Communication and Engagement Plan includes initial engagement as part of the promotion and awareness of the project as well as on-going engagement with the patient population.
EQIA Assessment
The purpose of an EQIA is to ensure that a project does not unlawfully discriminate against any protected characteristic e.g.:
- Race
- Religion or Belief
- Disability
- Sex
- Gender Reassignment
- Sexual Orientation
- Age
- Marriage or Civil Partnership
- Pregnancy and Maternity
As the social prescribing project would be a new introduction it would be advisable to complete an EQIA a template can be found at Appendix 13.