Abstract:

The Research Paper identifies key policy drivers that seek to support a holistic approach to enhancing well-being by preventing illness across Wales. The underpinning evidence to implement this National Strategy is found in three legislative frameworks, namely:
(i) a Healthier Wales (2019);
(ii) the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015; and
(iii) the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014.

The Wales Government is aware that the changes to bring about “A Healthier Wales” will not be easy by the need for different healthcare agencies and social services to collaborate, making referrals to community organisations through Social Prescribing (SP), being seen as a non-clinical intervention, where SP is defined in Wales as ‘connecting citizens to community support to better manage their health and well-being’. However, it was Aneurin Bevan, a key Welsh Figure who 70 years ago founded the Healthcare Service that is still able to support people with ‘miraculous technology’ that could never have been imagined in those early years. In Wales we are experiencing historic times with the recent launch of The National Framework for Social Prescribing (NFfSP) in Wales, by the Welsh Government, Senedd Cymru (Thursday 7 December 2023). Professor Carolyn Wallace, Director of the Wales School for Social Prescribing Research (WSSPR) is instrumental in bringing about evidence-based research, that contributed to the creation of the National Framework, transforming ways in which both the National Health Service and the Social Services work together collaboratively. This is illustrated by the current SP Model in Wales offering a holistic approach that is person-centred that integrates with statutory services across sectors (Rees et al., 2019; Wallace et al., 2021). The researcher, presenting this paper is in the fourth year of the Project “Investigating the Critical Success Factors for the Sustainability of SP Art-on-Prescription (AoP) in Wales”, where Professor Wallace, Director of Studies with the Academic Supervisory Team, including Professor Steven Smith and Dr. Sarah Wallace monitor the Project.

The research, implementing GroupWisdomTM software is at the stage of Analysis of Findings, having completed:
(i) Brainstorming with the focus prompt “A critical Success Factor for SP AoP is . . . “;
(ii) Sorting Activity of 125 statements ‘sieved’ from 191 statements gathered (Sample population of 89 research participants);
(iii) Rating Activities for:
(a) importance of statements and
(b) degree of effectiveness for sustainability of SP AoP in Wales (Sample population of 90 Research Participants).

All research participants confirming their ‘ethical approval’ with the completion of their “informed consent” forms to participate, were able to ‘drop-out’ at any stage of the procedures.

Professor Wallace suggested that a Project Advisory Group, i.e. “Critical Friends“ be set up to monitor “work-in-progress” with the task of supporting Dr Rogers. Their insightful contributions are greatly promoting collaborative ‘decision-making’, by monthly virtual Zoom Meetings. Dr Rogers recognises SP AoP for health and well-being in community groups in alleviating stress, anxiety and depression. The Research Team are enthusiastic with the NFfSP in Wales which illustrates how developing evidence-based research for SP in Wales shifts the responsibility for health and well-being for citizens as person-centred where creativity is at the heart of community well-being.

Keywords:

Social Prescribing, Art-on-Prescription, Healthcare, Community well-being, Social Services, Wales Government, evidence-based research, GroupWisdomTM Software, Ethical Approval, Holistic.