ArticleBMC health services research2025
Hospital in-reach family-centred social prescribing pilot for children with neurodisability: mixed methods evaluation with social return on investment analysis.
Article in BMC health services research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers.
What it found
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The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
9 citing papers in PubMed.
- 'So, this feels very different and, you know, kindly': a mixed methods study of arts on prescription in secondary care.European journal of public health · 2026Article
- Let us stop admiring the problem: we need social prescribing for children with disability now.BMJ paediatrics open · 2026Article
- A qualitative investigation of stakeholders' perceptions of social prescribing for families with infants through the lens of a creative play on prescription programme for 0-2-year-olds and their carers.Public health in practice (Oxford, England) · 2026Article
- EPIC-ND: a multi-site, randomised controlled trial evaluating the effectiveness of social prescribing for the unmet social needs of children with a neurodisability and their parent/carers - a study protocol.BMJ paediatrics open · 2026Article
- A retrospective observational study of characteristics and outcomes of older patients referred to a hospital-based social prescribing programme.Frontiers in public health · 2026Observational
- Understanding the successes and challenges of a social prescribing program for children and youth in Canada: a qualitative evaluation.Frontiers in public health · 2026Article
- Models, implementation, and reported outcomes of social prescribing interventions: a scoping review.Frontiers in public health · 2026Article
- The ages and stages of paediatric social prescribing.Paediatrics & child health · 2025Article
- Healthcare professionals' attitudes towards social prescribing in specialist children's weight management services.BMC primary care · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
8 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundSocial prescribing link workers support individuals to engage with community resources, co-creating achievable goals. Most schemes are community-based, targetting adults. Vulnerable populations including hospitalized children with neurodisability and their families, could also benefit from social prescribing.
aimsTo pilot a hospital-initiated social prescribing service for children with neurodisability and their families; to explore its feasibility, acceptability and undertake social return on investment (SROI) analysis.
methodsMixed-methods cohort study with SROI analysis. We recruited children aged < 16y with neurodisability, identified during inpatient stays, their parents/carers and siblings. Participants received link worker support for 6 months, extending beyond hospital discharge. Pre- and post-intervention pilot data covered profile of needs (Support Star), quality of life (EQ5D/CHU-9D), wellbeing (WEMWBS/CORS) and financial strain. We undertook 22 qualitative observations of family/link worker interactions and 39 in-depth interviews with families, link workers and healthcare professionals. Together these data were analysed within a SROI to establish the costs and social value generated.
resultsOf 48 families supported by the service, 25 were recruited to the evaluation (26 children, aged 10 m-15y; 4 siblings; 36 parents). Baseline quality of life and wellbeing indices averaged below population norms. Link workers were highly effective at supporting families (only 6/151 goals unmet). Unmet need decreased by 6 months (Support Star, p < 0.001). Families reported having felt overwhelmed when trying to adjust to new ways of life post diagnosis/discharge before link worker intervention, with little support to navigate non-medical needs. Parents, link workers and health care professionals found link worker support invaluable for making community services accessible. Families then felt more connected to their communities, and less isolated, with increased belief in their self-efficacy. Families and healthcare professionals felt that the duration of support, and eligibility criteria, should be extended. Inputs to deliver the service for 1 year (49 families) were estimated at £74,736: outcomes for the 18 families studied were estimated at a value of £205,861.
conclusionHospital in-reach social prescribing is feasible, acceptable, and addresses a range of otherwise unmet needs of children with neurodisability and their families, showing a positive SROI. Other vulnerable patient groups could also benefit from this approach.
trial registrationISRCTN23306751 (2.8.22).
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.