"Isn't social prescribing what social workers have been doing forever"?: UK social worker perspectives on social prescribing and professional boundaries

Social prescribing has assumed increasing dominance in policy and practice internationally, including in the UK, where it has an increasing role in addressing social needs such as isolation, and social determinants of ill-health. Although General Practitioners are perceived as key referral sources, social workers in one locality were found to play a significant role in referral. This suggests that the social work role in this context has been under-recognised and under-explored. This study sought to explore social workers perceptions and experiences of social prescribing through an online survey conducted from January - June 2022. All UK social workers were eligible to participate, regardless of whether they had made referrals. Responses (105) were collected from all UK nations. Data was analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Four key themes were generated: contended and contested boundaries; complementary spaces; delineated spaces of simplicity and complexity; social work under threat. Participants recognised that social prescribing could provide valuable client support and could be a useful resource for social workers. However, they also expressed concerns about overlapping professional boundaries and the potential for social prescribing to encroach on social work, perceiving it as most appropriate for the delivery of support to those with low-level needs.