A service ecosystems perspective to explore social prescribing value co-creation for vulnerable young people in NEET situation
Abstract Background Social prescribing inherently embodies a co-productive nature, particularly within the ‘holistic’ model facilitated by the pivotal role of Link Workers. Most attention is focused on collecting evidence about the micro-level relationship between Link Workers and their clients. How...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2025-01-01
|
| Series: | BMC Health Services Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-024-12182-7 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832594911946342400 |
|---|---|
| author | Isabel Farina Daniela Sangiorgi Cristina Masella Ilaria Simonelli Regina Alves Maria J. Marques Sonia Dias Carina Dantas Sabrina Herzog Sara Paternoster Emanuele Torri Marcello Bertotti |
| author_facet | Isabel Farina Daniela Sangiorgi Cristina Masella Ilaria Simonelli Regina Alves Maria J. Marques Sonia Dias Carina Dantas Sabrina Herzog Sara Paternoster Emanuele Torri Marcello Bertotti |
| author_sort | Isabel Farina |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Social prescribing inherently embodies a co-productive nature, particularly within the ‘holistic’ model facilitated by the pivotal role of Link Workers. Most attention is focused on collecting evidence about the micro-level relationship between Link Workers and their clients. However, little is known about how this co-productive relationship influences or is influenced by value co-creation at different levels, given the involvement of multiple actors in delivering the intervention. To advance research on the operational processes underlying social prescribing, we propose a conceptual framework utilizing the Service Ecosystems perspective to investigate the application of social prescribing with young people in NEET situations in Italy. Methods A single case study was conducted as part of the European C.O.P.E. (Capabilities, Opportunities, Places, and Engagement) initiative, examining the implementation of social prescribing targeting young NEETs (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) in Italy. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 27 participants, including six members of the C.O.P.E. coordination team, six Link Workers, and 15 young people aged 15–34 years. Results Findings are presented showing the ecosystem dynamics at each intervention phase: the referral process, co-production of an individualized action plan, and connection with and activation of community assets. Discussion This research illustrates how social prescribing is not a linear path but rather a complex intervention with multiple interacting elements across ecosystem layers. The dyadic relationship between Link Workers and clients operates within broader care services, fostering continuity of care. The service ecosystem perspective offers a valuable framework for examining the dynamic interactions between actors and understanding how their resource integration processes and institutional arrangements foster the emergence of opportunities to support an invisible and hard-to-reach target group, such as young people in NEET situations. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-82127c62e5c64d168db395b58caf571b |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1472-6963 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Health Services Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-82127c62e5c64d168db395b58caf571b2025-01-19T12:15:19ZengBMCBMC Health Services Research1472-69632025-01-0125111310.1186/s12913-024-12182-7A service ecosystems perspective to explore social prescribing value co-creation for vulnerable young people in NEET situationIsabel Farina0Daniela Sangiorgi1Cristina Masella2Ilaria Simonelli3Regina Alves4Maria J. Marques5Sonia Dias6Carina DantasSabrina Herzog7Sara Paternoster8Emanuele Torri9Marcello Bertotti10Department of Management Engineering, Politecnico of MilanDepartment of Design, Politecnico of MilanDepartment of Management Engineering, Politecnico of MilanHealthcare trust of the Autonomous Province of TrentoResearch Centre on Child Studies (CIEC), Institute of Education of University of Minho BragaNOVA National School of Public Health, Public Health Research Centre, CHRC, REAL, NOVA University LisbonNOVA National School of Public Health, Public Health Research Centre, CHRC, REAL, NOVA University LisbonHealthcare trust of the Autonomous Province of TrentoHealthcare trust of the Autonomous Province of TrentoHealthcare trust of the Autonomous Province of TrentoCommunity Health, Institute for Connected Communities, University of East LondonAbstract Background Social prescribing inherently embodies a co-productive nature, particularly within the ‘holistic’ model facilitated by the pivotal role of Link Workers. Most attention is focused on collecting evidence about the micro-level relationship between Link Workers and their clients. However, little is known about how this co-productive relationship influences or is influenced by value co-creation at different levels, given the involvement of multiple actors in delivering the intervention. To advance research on the operational processes underlying social prescribing, we propose a conceptual framework utilizing the Service Ecosystems perspective to investigate the application of social prescribing with young people in NEET situations in Italy. Methods A single case study was conducted as part of the European C.O.P.E. (Capabilities, Opportunities, Places, and Engagement) initiative, examining the implementation of social prescribing targeting young NEETs (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) in Italy. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 27 participants, including six members of the C.O.P.E. coordination team, six Link Workers, and 15 young people aged 15–34 years. Results Findings are presented showing the ecosystem dynamics at each intervention phase: the referral process, co-production of an individualized action plan, and connection with and activation of community assets. Discussion This research illustrates how social prescribing is not a linear path but rather a complex intervention with multiple interacting elements across ecosystem layers. The dyadic relationship between Link Workers and clients operates within broader care services, fostering continuity of care. The service ecosystem perspective offers a valuable framework for examining the dynamic interactions between actors and understanding how their resource integration processes and institutional arrangements foster the emergence of opportunities to support an invisible and hard-to-reach target group, such as young people in NEET situations.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-024-12182-7Social prescribingService ecosystemValue co-creationYoung peopleNEETs |
| spellingShingle | Isabel Farina Daniela Sangiorgi Cristina Masella Ilaria Simonelli Regina Alves Maria J. Marques Sonia Dias Carina Dantas Sabrina Herzog Sara Paternoster Emanuele Torri Marcello Bertotti A service ecosystems perspective to explore social prescribing value co-creation for vulnerable young people in NEET situation BMC Health Services Research Social prescribing Service ecosystem Value co-creation Young people NEETs |
| title | A service ecosystems perspective to explore social prescribing value co-creation for vulnerable young people in NEET situation |
| title_full | A service ecosystems perspective to explore social prescribing value co-creation for vulnerable young people in NEET situation |
| title_fullStr | A service ecosystems perspective to explore social prescribing value co-creation for vulnerable young people in NEET situation |
| title_full_unstemmed | A service ecosystems perspective to explore social prescribing value co-creation for vulnerable young people in NEET situation |
| title_short | A service ecosystems perspective to explore social prescribing value co-creation for vulnerable young people in NEET situation |
| title_sort | service ecosystems perspective to explore social prescribing value co creation for vulnerable young people in neet situation |
| topic | Social prescribing Service ecosystem Value co-creation Young people NEETs |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-024-12182-7 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT isabelfarina aserviceecosystemsperspectivetoexploresocialprescribingvaluecocreationforvulnerableyoungpeopleinneetsituation AT danielasangiorgi aserviceecosystemsperspectivetoexploresocialprescribingvaluecocreationforvulnerableyoungpeopleinneetsituation AT cristinamasella aserviceecosystemsperspectivetoexploresocialprescribingvaluecocreationforvulnerableyoungpeopleinneetsituation AT ilariasimonelli aserviceecosystemsperspectivetoexploresocialprescribingvaluecocreationforvulnerableyoungpeopleinneetsituation AT reginaalves aserviceecosystemsperspectivetoexploresocialprescribingvaluecocreationforvulnerableyoungpeopleinneetsituation AT mariajmarques aserviceecosystemsperspectivetoexploresocialprescribingvaluecocreationforvulnerableyoungpeopleinneetsituation AT soniadias aserviceecosystemsperspectivetoexploresocialprescribingvaluecocreationforvulnerableyoungpeopleinneetsituation AT carinadantas aserviceecosystemsperspectivetoexploresocialprescribingvaluecocreationforvulnerableyoungpeopleinneetsituation AT sabrinaherzog aserviceecosystemsperspectivetoexploresocialprescribingvaluecocreationforvulnerableyoungpeopleinneetsituation AT sarapaternoster aserviceecosystemsperspectivetoexploresocialprescribingvaluecocreationforvulnerableyoungpeopleinneetsituation AT emanueletorri aserviceecosystemsperspectivetoexploresocialprescribingvaluecocreationforvulnerableyoungpeopleinneetsituation AT marcellobertotti aserviceecosystemsperspectivetoexploresocialprescribingvaluecocreationforvulnerableyoungpeopleinneetsituation AT isabelfarina serviceecosystemsperspectivetoexploresocialprescribingvaluecocreationforvulnerableyoungpeopleinneetsituation AT danielasangiorgi serviceecosystemsperspectivetoexploresocialprescribingvaluecocreationforvulnerableyoungpeopleinneetsituation AT cristinamasella serviceecosystemsperspectivetoexploresocialprescribingvaluecocreationforvulnerableyoungpeopleinneetsituation AT ilariasimonelli serviceecosystemsperspectivetoexploresocialprescribingvaluecocreationforvulnerableyoungpeopleinneetsituation AT reginaalves serviceecosystemsperspectivetoexploresocialprescribingvaluecocreationforvulnerableyoungpeopleinneetsituation AT mariajmarques serviceecosystemsperspectivetoexploresocialprescribingvaluecocreationforvulnerableyoungpeopleinneetsituation AT soniadias serviceecosystemsperspectivetoexploresocialprescribingvaluecocreationforvulnerableyoungpeopleinneetsituation AT carinadantas serviceecosystemsperspectivetoexploresocialprescribingvaluecocreationforvulnerableyoungpeopleinneetsituation AT sabrinaherzog serviceecosystemsperspectivetoexploresocialprescribingvaluecocreationforvulnerableyoungpeopleinneetsituation AT sarapaternoster serviceecosystemsperspectivetoexploresocialprescribingvaluecocreationforvulnerableyoungpeopleinneetsituation AT emanueletorri serviceecosystemsperspectivetoexploresocialprescribingvaluecocreationforvulnerableyoungpeopleinneetsituation AT marcellobertotti serviceecosystemsperspectivetoexploresocialprescribingvaluecocreationforvulnerableyoungpeopleinneetsituation |