Integrated Plus Annual Report 2024/25

Dudley CVS’s Integrated Plus is a vanguard social prescribing service that supports residents from the Dudley Borough who present at GP surgeries with non-medical support needs. With over a decade since its inception the service has found innovative ways of providing support, building relationships with local partners, and developing new initiatives to ensure that the service is responsive to the needs of the people who access support.

Integrated Plus service supports people aged 16 and over who frequently visit their GP, who are at high risk of hospital admission, and/or who are vulnerable and could benefit from social prescribing interventions. The service works with people to address non-medical factors affecting their health and wellbeing. The support involves utilising a holistic personalised approach to co-produce a support plan for each individual with the goal of improving their health and wellbeing.

The team help to ensure people are accessing services, support, and activities appropriate for their needs. Integrated Plus also identifies opportunities for people to become more involved and active in their community to help improve their wellbeing. As a vanguard social prescribing service we aim to continually develop our offer for clients to access a range of support, either via the service or the referrals to other community & statutory services.

Recent initiatives include our Spring into Action fund that provides the opportunity for local organisation from the community and voluntary sector to apply for funding. This helps to support the service by providing innovative ways to improve client’s health & wellbeing. Examples of groups and sessions currently funded include peer support, arts & crafts, animal care, and an adult forest school.

Dudley CVS Volunteer Centre and Integrated Plus have worked closely to identify and develop volunteering opportunities for clients and the wider local population. Clients can now continue to develop after accessing support by providing support to others by volunteering as Community Buddies for Integrated Plus, either providing telephone or in-person support in the community. The service also has a Building Resilience in Communities Fund which supports clients struggling financially to access tools, equipment, and support to improve their health and wellbeing that they would otherwise not be able to afford.

For more detailed information regarding the service and support offered during 2024/25, please see the below report that includes case studies, cost savings, and statistics.