The Islington Social Prescribing Service for Children and Young People, provided by Isledon Arts, helps young people navigate and access creative, social and sporting activities in the local community.

The service works closely with the Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) team and the Emotional Wellbeing team, however it can only be accessed through direct referral and not through the central point of access.

The service does not include clinical intervention and so works at a lower level of need.

Please note: The social prescribers are not clinicians and they have a non-clinical role in supporting young people to improve their social, emotional, and mental health by connecting them to community services.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusions

Aged 11-25 and requiring support with:

• low-level stress at school/work/personal life (screen for depression/anxiety first)
• coping with chronic illnesses 
• bullying, loneliness, low self-esteem
• issues with family or personal relationships
• teenage parenting
• contraception/sexual health issues
• drug and alcohol issues requiring no psychiatric intervention (e.g. no features of harmful use or dependence)
• difficulties with self-regulation and challenging behaviour (e.g. detrimental screen use, poor sleep, hygiene, poor diet, risky behaviour)
• young carer responsibilities.

Exclusions

• mental health needs requiring counselling or therapy (refer to SEMH)
• confirmed or suspected subacute/chronic mental health disorder (e.g. chronic low mood, depression, anxiety, phobias, eating disorders, childhood trauma/PTSD)
• families looking for specific targeted support for special education needs and disabilities (e.g. ADHD, autism, learning disabilities) 
• substance misuse involving very harmful and hazardous usage or features of dependence
• risk of harm to self (e.g. suicidal ideation/intent, self-harm)
• risk of harm to others
• acute mental health presentation/acute crises requiring urgent psychiatric assessment/intervention (e.g. acute anxiety state, acute depressive state, psychosis states including mania)
• acute severe behavioural difficulties/crises impacting on family/school
• any concern or suspicion of (subacute/chronic) mental health or behavioural disorder that requires initial specialist psychiatric assessment (e.g. severe depression/anxiety, personality disorder, eating disorder, childhood trauma/PTSD or behavioural disorders) 
• safeguarding concerns/suspicion of abuse
• referrer's judgement of moderate and high risk.

How to Refer