Helping people to connect with local communities and reduce isolation
To help people with complex needs develop social connections, we should talk to them about their social networks, strengths (using strengths and asset-based approaches), and preferences for activities and social contact.
We should help people to access a range of groups, social activities and social networks to meet their needs and preferences, looking across the community in addition to what is provided by health and social care services. This could be done by:
· Identifying local community groups and networks, and resources (for example, social clubs, community gardens, faith and cultural groups, user-led social groups)
· Finding out about these resources and whether they may meet the person's needs and preferences
· Helping the person make contact with these groups and activities (for example, by arranging IT and digital training, using familiar and accessible places).
We should think creatively about the types of community resources and networks that they can put in place or support people to develop (for example, by active involvement in commissioning discussions and flexible use of personal budgets, including direct payments).
We should check with the person whether any new community connection is meaningful, beneficial to wellbeing and enjoyable, and if not support the person to find a more suitable alternative.
We should keep up to date with information on currently available community assets and pass this information on to adults with complex needs and their families. For example, by:
· Creating lists of resources and updating them regularly
· Allocating workers to identify resources
· Liaising with community groups
· Commissioning voluntary organisations to keep up-to-date resource lists.
Organisations should make information available about their services, and other community resources to people with complex needs (for example, disabled people's user-led organisations and other community groups). This information should cover:
· Catchment area, and people's right to access services outside of their catchment area
· Eligibility criteria
· Referral processes.
For information on community engagement approaches that seek to improve health and wellbeing and reduce health inequalities, see the NICE guideline on community engagement: improving health and wellbeing and reducing health inequalities. For information aimed at engaging people over 65 years in activities to improve mental wellbeing, see the NICE guideline on mental wellbeing in over 65s: occupational therapy and physical activity interventions.
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