The Canadian Red Cross (“CRC”) is soliciting information from industry so that it may select a service provider to develop a Social Prescribing Business Case and Government Stakeholder Engagement Plan to advance knowledge and investment in social prescribing as a health innovation across Canada. CRC is looking at putting in place a 3-month term agreement with the selected vendor, which may be extended with sufficient demonstrated need.
Social Prescribing is a structured approach to better connect clinical care (“prescribing”) with non-clinical supports in the community (“social”), with an emphasis on person-centred care, supportive referral pathways and intentional collaboration across sectors. The term emerged out of the UK several years ago, and is now a key element of the National Health Service England’s Long Term Plan and is gaining momentum internationally and across Canada. Research evidence in the UK on this new health innovation has demonstrated reduced health care costs, improved service delivery, and improved health outcomes.
Social prescribing is an emergent health innovation. The term is new to many stakeholders in Canada, and global evidence on the return on investment and economic impact is just emerging. The Canadian Red Cross and its partners recognizes that social prescribing is an important mechanism to supporting integrated holistic health services, and there is need to advance knowledge of and sustainable investments into this practice in health care and community sectors across the country.
Requested Services
The Canadian Red Cross is seeking to develop a Business Case for Social Prescribing that details economic and social return on investment if adopted across Canada, along with accompanying Government and Public Engagement Strategy to mobilize general public and key government stakeholders across the health, community services and other relevant ministries to increase knowledge, open conversations and encourage the adoption of this innovation.
The bidder must have deep familiarity with current government priorities and demonstrated success in synthesizing and communicating complex research evidence for emerging health innovations in a way that is relevant for government stakeholders. The process used must reflect the principles of social prescribing, with focus on equity, self-determination, community leadership and collaboration.
The deliverables must be provided in both English and French.
Deliverables:
• Business Case for Social Prescribing: Using a combination of existing literature review, key stakeholder interviews, and case studies, and in consideration of current government priorities, develop a business case that demonstrates the economic and social return on investment for implementing social prescribing across Canada and provide recommendations to aid decision makers in the formation of health and community support policies. The Business Case is expected to be co-branded between the Canadian Red Cross and the successful bidder.
• Government and Public Engagement Strategy : A coordinated strategy to create and leverage opportunities to promote the Business Case and support conversations with decision makers and general public. The strategy must include, at minimum, the following:
o Identification of key influencers and decision makers, with recommended outreach strategies;
o Overall key messages and differentiated sub-messages as needed for identified stakeholders according to levels of government, political parties, ministries, health care systems, public, and others.
o Recommendations for marketing and public engagement strategies and activities; and
o Marketing and communications materials and resource recommendations.
