TO BE PUBLISHED September 2026
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This conference will examine next steps for social prescribing in England. Discussion will focus on practical integration within neighbourhood health services, as well as questions around outcomes and evaluation, workforce and funding priorities, and the role of innovation and community-based approaches in supporting implementation.
It will bring together policymakers and stakeholders from across health and social care, local government, the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector, research and service delivery to consider the developing role of social prescribing within neighbourhood-based and preventative care. Approaches to translating the emerging national approach into workable local arrangements will be discussed, following publication of the 10 Year Health Plan for England, the Neighbourhood Health Framework, and with social prescribing continuing to feature in implementation of neighbourhood health services, fit-note reform pilots, and ongoing development of a Mental Health Strategy for England.
The agenda will consider practical and financial implications for commissioners, link workers and community organisations, including partnership working, workforce and community capacity, long-term resourcing, evidence of impact and equitable access as expectations for neighbourhood-level care continue to develop.
Delivery, integration & equitable access
The agenda will examine the role of social prescribing in neighbourhood health services and wider reforms aimed at prevention and neighbourhood-based care. Delegates will consider practicalities for embedding social prescribing within service reform, alongside questions around consistency, access, partnership working, and sustainable delivery.
Overall, areas for discussion include:
- neighbourhood services: integration of social prescribing - implications of the NHS 10 Year Health Plan and the Neighbourhood Health Framework - supporting prevention and addressing wider determinants of health
- referral pathways: social prescribing within primary care and PCNs - co-ordination across services - approaches to seamless referral and follow-up arrangements
- local partnerships: collaboration between ICSs, local government, primary care and the VCSE sector - governance arrangements - frameworks for joined-up delivery
- access and variation: addressing geographical differences in provision - reducing uneven access - responding to concerns around community capacity and service availability
- commissioning: supporting increasingly complex and multimorbid caseloads - aligning commissioning with neighbourhood-level support - social prescribing within wider system reform
- co-production: inclusive service design - support for people with complex needs - engagement with communities, VCSE organisations and faith-based groups
- international practice: implications for delivery models, partnership working and prevention-focused approaches
Evidence, research priorities & monitoring outcomes
Sessions will assess the current evidence base for social prescribing and implications for future policy and commissioning. Discussion is expected on outcome measurement, research priorities, and what will be needed to strengthen understanding of long-term impacts across different populations and settings. This includes insights from recent link worker surveys and evaluations of nature-based approaches.
Overall, areas for discussion include:
- evidence base: implications of recent NIHR evaluation findings - outcomes relating to wellbeing and condition management - priorities for future research
- access and outcomes: experiences of delivery through PCNs and link workers - factors influencing uptake and effectiveness across different populations and settings
- research priorities: long-term outcomes - population-level impacts - understanding effectiveness across different models of provision
- measurement: development of standardised metrics - addressing gaps in recording and reporting - supporting consistency in evaluation
- equitable delivery: assessing impact across deprived communities, vulnerable groups and people who are digitally excluded - priorities for addressing service variation and informing commissioning and investment decisions
Workforce, skills, capacity & funding
The conference will consider workforce and resource requirements for delivering social prescribing at scale, exploring support for link workers and community partners, managing growing demand, and approaches to sustainable funding in the context of wider NHS reform.
Overall, areas for discussion include:
- workforce capacity: responding to rising demand and increasingly complex caseloads - supporting sustainable service delivery
- skills: training, upskilling and professional support - priorities for workforce development within neighbourhood health services
- retention: flexible working arrangements - support structures - addressing factors associated with workforce pressures and burnout
- multidisciplinary working: supporting effective integration of link workers within neighbourhood teams - collaboration across professional groups and services
- service capacity: strategies for addressing inappropriate referrals - mitigating the impact of increasing demand pressures - matching support to local need
- workforce planning: implications of the anticipated DHSC 10 Year Workforce Plan - future expectations for link worker roles
- funding and investment: options for sustainable, long-term resourcing - assessing cost-effectiveness and value for money - implications for commissioning and longer-term investment decisions
- ARRS funding: implications of the 2026/27 GP contract's expanded ARRS flexibility - the position of social prescribing link-worker posts within future workforce arrangements - service delivery and workforce stability
Innovation, green social prescribing & digital tools
Further discussion will examine innovation in service delivery, including nature-based interventions and digital approaches that support referral management, monitoring and evaluation. Delegates will consider how emerging models can contribute to neighbourhood-level delivery and wider prevention objectives. This includes the recently launched Green Social Prescribing Practitioner Guidance and ongoing work on safe referrals and community-led models.
Overall, areas for discussion include:
- green prescribing: implications of Natural England pilots and evaluations - new practitioner guidance - nature-based approaches to supporting health and wellbeing
- community delivery: locally-led models - partnerships with community organisations - supporting prevention-focused services
- long-term conditions: evidence relating to nature-based interventions - implications for future service development
- digital tools: referral platforms and digital infrastructure - supporting efficient service coordination and access
- outcomes and data: approaches to monitoring activity and results - standardising collection and reporting - strengthening evidence generation and service improvement
- neighbourhood delivery: technology-enabled approaches to sustainable local provision - assessing avoided demand and resource implications
All delegates will be able to contribute to the output of the conference, which will be shared with parliamentary, ministerial, departmental and regulatory offices, and more widely. This includes the full proceedings and additional articles submitted by delegates. As well as key stakeholders, those already due to attend include officials from Department of Health and Social Care; Department for Education; Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency; and HM Prison and Probation Service.
