Christina Smith, Sara Bailes and Xanthe Vanderputt.
Christina Smith is our specialist Community Care Coordinator, working with a number of primary care and social work teams. She is also supported by Sara and Xanthe who are our Social Prescribing Link Workers. The team provide help and support for patients here at Courtyard Surgery as well as The Orchard practice. They each have specialist skills and knowledge.
The Community Care team and social prescribers connect people to community-based support, including activities and services that meet practical, social, and emotional needs that affect their health and wellbeing. This includes connecting people to statutory services for example housing, financial and welfare advice.
Social prescribing works particularly well for people with low level mental health needs, who feel lonely or isolated, with long term conditions and complex social needs. Social prescribing link workers work collaboratively across the health and care system, targeting populations with greatest need and risk of health inequalities. They collaborate with partners to identify gaps in provision and support community offers to be accessible and sustainable.
Please contact the surgery if you would like an appointment with the Community Care Team.