Evaluation of Sources of Support Service

In Summary

The analysis of the SOS 100 cases highlighted the range and complexity of the work being undertaken. Even those patients who engaged and worked with the Link Workers were variously committed and provided a challenge to the Link Workers to keep them on board and moving forward. The Link Workers have gained a breadth and depth of knowledge of mainstream and community based services and activities that might well be unique within the service environment. Patients were not only setting goals but achieving them. In no small measure this was due to a combination of the tenacity of the Link Workers and developing good communication and joint working between the SOS service and other external services/activities. Patients improved their knowledge and skills base and at the same time some patients gained very practical, very tangible 'benefits'.