Knowledge Centre for Social, Cultural and Nature Prescription for Health and Wellbeing [NI-SERV-2020-54]
NOVA-PSOA supports institutions in the sectors of health, social or local authorities to implement and evaluate projects of Social Prescribing
Service/Expertise Overview
The Knowledge Centre for Social, Cultural and Nature Prescription for Health and Wellbeing is NOVA ENSP’s innovation and scientific consulting platform dedicated to building bridges between the health and social sectors and the community.
We act as a collaborative innovation laboratory, transforming knowledge into solutions that connect people, health and social systems, and community resources in an innovative model of care that is effectively person-centred.
The Knowledge Centre is a space dedicated to applied research, public policy design and evidence-based social innovation. We support organisations in implementing integrated and collaborative care models, promoting responses centred on people and their contexts, based on social, cultural and natural resources.
Our approach is based on data, co-creation and the generation of public value, ensuring the transfer of useful, replicable and sustainable knowledge. We work to transform scientific evidence into practical solutions that reinforce equity, integration and efficiency in health and welfare systems.
Core areas of activity:
- Technical and scientific consulting: design, planning, and evaluation of social, cultural, and nature-based interventions, and care integration policies;
- Skills training and innovation: advanced training for professionals and inter-sectoral teams;
- Monitoring and impact: creation of value metrics, evaluation models, and decision dashboards;
- Communication and engagement: design of social mobilisation strategies and dissemination of good practices;
- Orchestration of ecosystems: promotion of the Portuguese Network for Social, Cultural and Nature Prescription, connecting partners from different sectors with a common purpose – improving health through the community.
Competitive advantages
- First national hub for innovation in social, cultural and nature-based prescribing, recognised for good practices and social and health impact;
- End-to-end approach, covering the entire innovation cycle: from evidence to implementation and scalability;
- National and international network of excellence, integrating universities, public and private bodies and civil society partners;
- Ability to model and scale solutions, tested in real-world contexts in public health, local authorities and community organisations;
- Multidisciplinary advisory team specialising in public health, social innovation, health and social policies, design and impact assessment;
- Replicable innovation methodology, inspired by international frameworks (WHO Social Innovation, NHS England, Oxford Health Innovation Labs).
Strategic differentiation:
The Knowledge Centre acts as a partner for systemic innovation, combining the scientific rigour of an academic institution with the agility of an impact consultancy.
It offers tailor-made, data-driven solutions, designed in collaboration with decision-makers and communities, and tested in the field.
Applications
The Knowledge Centre positions itself as a partner for innovation and transformation for organisations seeking to integrate approaches to community health, social impact and systemic sustainability.
Main contexts of application:
- Local and regional public administration – design and implementation of social, cultural and nature prescription policies and ecosystems;
- Health institutions (public and private) – integration of collaborative person-centred care models;
- Sectors with an impact on health – social, cultural, sporting, educational, environmental and urban;
- Civil society organisations and foundations – programmes for well-being, social inclusion and community innovation;
- Private companies and foundations – social responsibility projects and positive impact on local communities;
- Academia and education – capacity building and knowledge transfer through training, research and applied practice programmes;
- Professionals and students – skills development for working in interdisciplinary health and social innovation environments.
Cases of application and reference:
- Pilot project for Social Prescription in Lisbon (USF Baixa and USF Almirante Reis);
- Local and regional initiatives in other territories, in partnership with local authorities, health services and third sector organisations;
- Development of technical resources such as the Manual to Support the Implementation of Social Prescription Initiatives;
- National training of professionals and promotion of the Portuguese Network for Social, Cultural and Nature Prescription, with the support of the NHS, DGS, ISS, CCDR-LVT, Portugal Inovação Social and Fórum Saúde XXI.
We combine science, strategy and community participation to improve healthcare.
We seek to transform knowledge into practical, integrated solutions that contribute to people’s well-being and more sustainable systems.
