Our current work is always evolving as we rise to the challenges to deliver on our Quality of Life Strategic Priorities to benefit the needs of our communities across the region. This webpage provides a view into the projects that we are running and also an insight into our Priorities and our Overall Strategy.
Suicide Prevention Pledge
One Northern Devon developed a joint suicide prevention campaign to encourage partners to sign up to a pledge in conjunction with Devon and Torbay Suicide Prevention Allliance. The One Northern Devon Stop Suicide Pledge encourages people to talk about suicide and direct people to support. You can sign the Stop Suicide Pledge and find resources to help you support people by visiting the Devon and Torbay Suicide Prevention Alliance website
Click here for more information on One Northern Devon joining together in suicide prevention pledge
One Northern Devon Social Prescribing Network
Social prescribing is an example of the person-centred work that One Northern Devon promotes. There has been an inequity of access to a social prescriber[1] within the communities of North Devon and Torridge for many years. There has been a patchwork of provision, some of it voluntary, some of it publicly funded but no overall sight of everything that is available, nor a mechanism to compare models or outcomes.
One Northern Devon has created two structures – the OND Communities Group and the OND Social Prescribing Network – which will enable the system to:
- understand the social prescribing provision currently available
- identify the gaps in that provision
- seek to ensure equity of provision by sourcing funding to fill those gaps; and
- monitor the activity and outcomes of the various social prescribing schemes.
The One Northern Devon Social Prescribing Network was created following feedback from social prescribing practitioners that they often felt isolated in their role without peers to support them. The network now includes 17 practitioners ranging from volunteers, those employed as PCN link workers, to those funded by other public bodies. Meetings are held every 6 weeks, and complex cases are discussed anonymously with practitioners across the locality offering advice and support such as joint visits. In addition, the group has carried out a baseline training needs assessment and booked training sessions to address those needs such as motivational interviewing techniques and suicide awareness.
[1] We are using the term Social Prescriber here to include Community Connectors and other forms of link worker.
One Northern Devon Communities Group
The One Northern Devon Communities group is the forum where representatives from the One Towns meet to share information, ideas and discuss common barriers. Where solutions can’t be found, these are escalated to the One Northern Devon board. Social prescribing is also a standing agenda item at these meetings. Funders of social prescribing attend these meetings and the group has now established a reporting mechanism for the social prescribing services that have recently been commissioned through iBCF funds.
- Click here for minutes and agendas of the OND Communities Group
- Click here for model One Town Terms of Reference for adaptation by each One Town
Quality of Life Strategic Priorities
One Northern Devon’s Strategy covers a 10 year period starting in 2020, the year that saw a global pandemic transform the way we live and work. By bringing together our full range of partners in a united purpose, we can use every opportunity and advantage we have in Northern Devon to design a way of life that is fairer for all.
