Neighbourhood health
What is neighbourhood health?
Neighbourhood health is a way of organising health and care services around the needs of local communities.
Rather than people navigating multiple services and organisations on their own, neighbourhood health aims to bring together health, social care, housing, education, employment support, voluntary organisations and community groups around a shared understanding of local need. Its focus is on prevention, early intervention, reducing health inequalities and supporting people to live well in their communities.
Terminology differs across the UK, and not every country or service will use the term neighbourhood health. These resources show how occupational therapists work in communities to support prevention, early intervention, independence and participation, whatever language is used locally.
Why occupational therapy matters to neighbourhood health?
Occupational therapists have been working in communities for decades and are already helping people live independently, stay connected to their communities and participate in everyday life.
As neighbourhood health develops, occupational therapists are increasingly contributing to prevention, rehabilitation, mental health, housing, education, employment support, healthy ageing and integrated neighbourhood teams. Their ability to consider physical health, mental health, social circumstances and environments together makes them an important part of neighbourhood-based care.