GSP practitioner guidance highlights importance of appropriate information sharing

Green social prescribing requires careful matching of the individual beneficiary to a specific nature-based intervention (NBI). New guidance published in June recommends how and what information should be shared to help

• social prescribers identify the best NBI for an individual, and

• practitioners deliver NBIs safely and effectively to the people who will benefit most from a particular intervention.

Created by Thrive in partnership with The National Academy for Social Prescribing (NASP) and the cross-Government Green Social Prescribing programme, these guidelines are aimed at organisations that support people with mental health difficulties. The guidance recommends that NBI providers should include details of how to reach the site, access on site, levels of supervision for the activity and the provider’s experience of working with different health conditions. Social prescribers in turn should share with the provider details about health conditions and social or behavioural factors of the potential beneficiary, as well as any risks to safe participation. Providing participants with detailed information about the NBI in advance – such as in a welcome pack – is a further form of information sharing that can help participants know what to expect and understand how they will be supported.

The GSP practitioner  guidance also makes recommendations for other aspects of providing NBIs, including assessments and practices during participation in the NBI programme, preparing participants for leaving the programme, safeguarding and supervision of practitioners.

For more details see here for Green Social Prescribing Practitioner Guidance, June 2026