Rebecca Martin has recently started her role as the social prescriber for Whitefield.
Social prescribing, also sometimes known as community referral, is a means of enabling health professionals to refer people to a range of local, non-clinical services, such as volunteering, arts activities, gardening, befriending, cookery and sports.
It recognises that people’s health and wellbeing are determined mostly by a range of social, economic and environmental factors. It also aims to support individuals to take greater control of their own health.
Here, Rebecca answers some questions about her role in the Bury health and care system.
Q: What is your career background and how did it lead to your current role in Bury?
A: I’ve worked for Bury Council for the past 16 years, 13 of those were as a duty manager at the Longfield Suite in the heart of Prestwich. During Covid, I joined the community hub team whilst the suite was closed, where I helped organise volunteers to help vulnerable people within the Prestwich and Whitefield community access groceries, medications and other support.
I realised during that time that being out in the community was what I loved so I joined the community hub team full time. During that time, I worked with some amazing community groups including Julie (Bentley), the social prescriber for Prestwich.
Q: What does your current role involve?
A: My role as social prescriber involves working with people who are either referred by their GP, or self-refer, to connect them to activities, groups and services within their community to meet the practical, social and emotional needs that affect their health and wellbeing.
“Social prescribing has played a big role in people’s lives.”
Rebecca Martin, Whitefield’s social prescriber
Q: What do you love about your role?
A: Meeting people, helping and supporting people through their journey
Q: What is the biggest challenge?
A: As it is only my third week within this role and I am still finding my feet, I don’t feel like I have had any challenges yet.
Q: There have been bits of negative press about social prescribing, suggesting it doesn’t make a difference. How would you reply to that claim?
A: Ask any one of those that attend the Prestwich social drop-in and they will tell you differently. Not only from those who attend but even support workers have said how much social prescribing has played a big role in people’s lives to increase their confidence.
Q: How can the Bury health and social care workforce contact you if they know someone who may benefit from social prescribing?
A: They can email me at Rebecca.martin67@nhs.net or call me on 07572 396531.
Q: What are your interests outside work and what do you do to relax?
A: I love spending time with my family, slowly learning Spanish via Duolingo and once a week I attend a local amateur dramatics group.
