How Does It Work?
Identification and Referral
It’s sometimes difficult to identify those who could benefit most from the Community Mentor service. These people may not be involved with existing activities in the community and are therefore less likely to hear about the service or be recognised by others to be potential beneficiaries. See link to Who is it for?
Mentors take the following steps to help identify people who may need the service.
List the most likely circumstances of people who might benefit in their area. People from different areas (urban, rural, local districts) will have different needs.
Distribute leaflets about the service (see below).
Visit and explain the service to professional teams, including:
- GP practices throughout the area, and the multi-disciplinary team (including health visitors, occupational therapists, district nurses and others);
- local hospitals;
- pharmacists, dentists, opticians and other professionals in the community; and
- Adult & Community Services help desks and/or community information centres.
- Visit local institutions, organisations and clubs, including residential homes, sheltered and warden-assisted accommodation, city, district or parish councils.
- ‘Map the area’ further by visiting pubs, post offices, newsagents, and other ‘community antennae’ that might recognise the potential beneficiaries of the service - the Pilot Project identified this as an effective method of promotion.
‘Invitation’ leaflet
It is important to get the language right with a clear message – so that the service is seen to be inclusive and positive. Further messages about the service can be communicated through specific information for particular interest groups. The leaflet can be distributed through/with:
- GP surgeries, libraries, community organisations and outlets;
- door-to-door in selected areas or villages;
- repeat prescriptions or clinics;
- prescriptions from pharmacists, dentists and opticians;
- patients’ information packs at hospitals;and
- the registered list of interface services for effective GP referrals.
Referrals
At first, referrals will come mostly from health and social care professionals but should grow to include community and self referrals. The increasing number of self-referrals indicates the positive effect of word of mouth. Most professional referrals are likely to come through occupational therapists, health visitors, community psychiatric nurses and similar. The integration of mentors on GP multi-disciplinary teams and networking among voluntary organisations through the Healthy Living Community increases the number of referrals and the amount of people given the contact details of their Community Mentor.
