Argyll and Bute Alcohol and Drugs Partnership (ADP) Strategy Update: 2021-2023 ADP Report and Refreshed 2023 Priorities
Argyll and Bute Council · 31 May 2023
Back to Argyll and Bute HSCP Integration Joint Board (IJB) — 31 May 2023 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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1 Integration Joint Board Date of Meeting: 31 May 2023 Title of Report: Argyll and Bute Alcohol and Drug Partnership Strategy update: 2021-2023 report and refreshed 2023 priorities Agenda item: Presented by: Jenny Dryden & Laura Stephenson, interim ADP Coordinators The IJB is asked to Consider the progress made on addressing the Alcohol and Drug Partnership (ADP) strategy priorities between 2021-2023 (see supplementary paper a). Consider the work undertaken to refresh the ADP strategy, with renewed partnership priorities for 2023 (see supplementary paper b). 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1.1 2021-2023 ADP report The Argyll and Bute Alcohol and Drug Partnership (ADP) 2021-2023 report covers a period of significant investment and interest in the field of alcohol and drugs, both within Argyll and Bute and nationally. The report details progress to-date and activity which has taken place to address the four pillars of the 2020-2023 strategy, which are: Prevention and early intervention Developing Recovery Oriented Systems of Care Getting it Right for Everybody Public Health Approach to Justice The pillars closely align with the priorities of the Argyll and Bute HSCP Joint Strategic Plan 2022-2025. 1.2 Alcohol and Drug strategy refresh Argyll and Bute Alcohol and Drug Partnership has a strategy which covers the period 2020-2023. In preparation for the final year of the strategy, a strategy refresh day was held in Arrochar in February 2023. Forty attendees from a range of partner organisations, including people with lived experience, met to review the achievements and priorities, strategy progress and identify the key priorities for the remaining year of the current strategy (appendix 1). A survey of the Alcohol and Drug Partnership has been undertaken to identify how
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2 partners will address the priorities identified. This may be within their service/organisation or through working in partnership with others. Along with the priorities, the following recommendations are proposed, which will be considered by the ADP: 1. Consideration of a subgroup to be identified to progress each pillar of work. 2. Consideration of a subgroup to be identified to review data and measurement; to collate what information is available and how we measure outcomes/progress. The draft strategy refresh was presented to the ADP and Argyll and Bute HSCP Strategic Planning Group for further engagement and as part of governance structure. 2. INTRODUCTION 2.1 2021-2023 ADP report The ADP strategy vision is that Argyll and Bute is an area where “we live long, healthy and active lives regardless of where we come from” and where individuals, families and communities have the right to health and a life free from the harms of alcohol and drugs; are treated with dignity and respect; and are fully supported within communities to find their own type of recovery. The work of the Alcohol and Drug Partnership is informed by a strategy that covers the period 2020-2023. A summary of the strategy is provided below: 2.2 Alcohol and Drug strategy refresh Engagement and national strategy underpinned the Argyll and Bute ‘Alcohol and Drug Strategy and Action Plan 2020 – 2023’ when it was developed in 2020. Changes in national strategy since 2022 necessitate a refresh of the local priorities, to ensure Argyll and Bute are implementing best practice and meeting the needs of the population. In January 2021, the Scottish
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3 Government announced the National Drugs Mission Plan (2022-2026) to reduce drug deaths and harms. The plan builds upon Rights, Respect and Recovery (2018), Scotland’s alcohol and drug strategy and includes the Medication Assisted Treatment Standards (MAT); evidence-based standards to enable the consistent delivery of safe, accessible, high-quality drug treatment across Scotland. It is therefore appropriate that in the final year of the current strategy, priorities are reviewed and refreshed. This will ensure the strategy is continuing to meet the needs of Argyll and Bute whilst beginning the work to develop the new 3- year strategy. 3. DETAIL OF REPORT 3.1 2021-2023 ADP report The Argyll and Bute Alcohol and Drug Partnership (ADP) 2021-2023 report details a range of activities and progress to address the four pillars of the ADP strategy: working towards fewer people developing problems with alcohol and drug use; more people able to access and benefit from effective, integrated, person-centred support to achieve their recovery; ensuring people affected by alcohol and drugs use will be safe, healthy, included and supported; and ensuring that vulnerable people are diverted from the justice system wherever possible, and those within justice settings are fully supported. Examples of this work include: A) Prevention and early intervention Cool2Talk is an online support service for young people aged 12-26. Young people post a question to the website then receive a bespoke answer within 24 hours, 365 days a year, signposting them to appropriate services including sexual health services, emotional support resources and other health related issues. The aim of the service is improve young people’s access to local and national services, health information and encourage young people to openly discuss issues around their health and wellbeing. The ADP contributes funding towards this service and sits on the steering group, alongside a range of other partners such as Public Health, Police Scotland, Scottish Fire and Rescue, HSCP Children and Families, and Argyll and Bute Education Service. 'Smoke Free' and 'You Are Not Alone' Dramas - A range of partners within the ADP were involved in two dramas delivered to school pupils across Argyll and Bute. ‘Smoke Free’ is a bespoke educational programme delivered to Primary 7s. It consists of lesson plans, online leaflets, letters for families and ends with an interactive drama production. This was offered to all Argyll and Bute Primary Schools (approx. 70) despite Covid-19 challenges. Face to face delivery returned in 2022-2023.
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4 ‘You are not alone’ drama address topics young people may be struggling with in their lives. It was delivered in Argyll and Bute High Schools via video in 2021-2022 and returned to face-to-face delivery in 2022-2023. B) Developing Recovery Orientated Systems of Care Access to Residential Rehabilitation - a new pathway for Argyll and Bute residents to access residential rehabilitation and/or detoxification was created, alongside a Residential Rehabilitation Group. The group ensures that all partners who would be involved in care and support before and after residential rehabilitation would be involved in the discussions, to enable clients to maintain the benefits of residential rehabilitation. Pre and post rehabilitation support can be provided by commissioned Third Sector service We Are With You. We Are With You - commissioned in Argyll and Bute to deliver Community Based Addiction Recovery Services. They provide person- centred care to support people to reduce their problematic drug and/or alcohol use; optimise personal, physical and mental wellbeing; build social networks, including family and community network; build strengths; and develop resilience in recovery. We are With You also offer online webchat and family support using the CRAFT (Community Reinforcement and Family Training) programme, Naloxone training, and are involved in delivering Medication Assisted Treatment Standards via Assertive Outreach Workers. Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) Standards – a new pilot implemented involving a test of change within Cowal and Bute. Cowal and Bute was identified as the Test of Change locality due to experiencing the highest number of drug-related deaths over several years. This Test of Change is therefore aimed at supporting a vulnerable/high risk group of drug users in the Cowal and Bute area. In doing so it intends to reduce the incidence and risk of drug related deaths across the locality. Progress includes: - Creation of additional prescribing capacity via recruitment and upskilling of existing staff. - Establishment of easy access pathways into MAT, via Argyll and Bute Substance Response Service - Recruitment of Outreach Workers through We Are With You. - Development of Cowal Community Hub as shared space. - Development of processes to identify people at high risk of drug-related harm. - Development of flexible satellite recovery activities to improve capacity and retention in services. C) Getting It Right for Everyone Advocacy - With four people completing their training as Lived Experience Advocates earlier this year, Argyll & Bute became the first area in Scotland to establish an advocacy service for people in recovery delivered by people with experience of recovery. Via Lomond and Argyll
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5 Advocacy Service (LAAS), advocates work closely with the substance use support teams in localities, supporting the needs of their communities and encouraging people to access the types of supports that enable their recovery journeys. LAAS plays an important role in the delivery of MAT Standards in Argyll and Bute. Cowal Community Hub - Argyll and Bute Rape Crisis (ABRC) have working in collaboration with the ADP and local partners to undertake a significant piece of development work to facilitate the creation of the ‘Cowal Hub’ in Dunoon. The aim of the hub is to provide a warm and safe space for people in Dunoon and surrounding areas. The hub will strive to provide support for local services including addiction, mental health, advocacy, housing, financial support, smoking cessation and Citizen’s Advice, among others. The hub will also offer a space for socialising, with people able to come in for a chat, hot drink or to get involved in the hub activities. The Addictions Recovery Café (ARC) will be based at the hub and the Argyll and Bute Substance Response Service will also operate out of the hub on a regular basis. Elena Whitham, Scottish Government Minister for Drugs and Alcohol policy will attend the official opening of Cowal Community Hub on Friday 28th of April 2023. D) A Public Health Approach to Justice Police Custody to Community Policy - The ADP, in partnership with Community Justice, Police Scotland and We Are With You, established a pathway for people held in Police Custody who wished to speak to a member of staff from We Are With You. We Are With You function as a first point of contact and link people into the appropriate service providers on their release from custody. Further information on the above, and the full detail of the report can be found at: https://www.argyllandbuteadp.info/img/ABADP-AnnReport21-23-FINAL.pdf 3.2 Alcohol and Drug strategy refresh The engagement process to refresh the existing Argyll and Bute alcohol and drug strategy priorities consisted of a strategy day held in February 2023. Forty attendees attended this full day event and worked in focus groups throughout the day. Attendees included those with lived experience and from partner organisations. The focus group aims were to refresh the existing ADP Strategy and to apply the following objectives to the pillars of work: • To review the existing priorities • Scope what has been done to date • Scope what remains outstanding • Map the ongoing priorities for 2023 Attendees were asked to consider: What has been delivered and can be removed from the plan? What else can be removed from the plan and why?
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6 What has not been completed but should have been? Including discussion of challenges and how to address these. What topics/themes/milestones need to be changed within the pillar? Including new themes/priorities and discussion of partners involved. Identify the top priorities within the plan. The following were identified as top priorities for 2023. See Appendix 1 for further details. Prevention and early intervention 1. Work with partners and communities across Argyll & Bute to make prevention and diversionary activities available (for all age groups), build awareness and resilience aimed at reducing harm and improve life choices. 2. Ensure access to a range of support services including specialist drug and alcohol support for under 25s. 3. Challenge stigma through education for everyone Developing Recovery Oriented Systems of Care 1. Build on A&B ROSC work to ensure a robust and working Recovery Oriented System of Care 2. Involve people with lived and living experience, families, and carers in all aspects of the planning, delivery and evaluation of drug and alcohol service provision Getting it Right for Everybody 1. Take forward recommendations from needs assessment relating to young people and families (include mental health, relationships and stress) and revisit overall needs assessment requirements 2. Strengthen links between drug and alcohol recovery services, Children & Families, Adult Protection Services and Maternity Service (including supporting child and Adult Protection Services processes) Public Health Approach to Justice 1. Improve Arrest Referral pathways from Police Scotland custody into appropriate treatment and support across Argyll & Bute. 2. Ensure that all appropriate partners are trained and able to provide Naloxone at point of liberation. 3. Work with partners and communities across Argyll & Bute to reduce alcohol- and drug-related violence and crime, through a combination of enforcing legislation, prevention work and early intervention activity. 4. RELEVANT DATA AND INDICATORS The 2020-2023 strategy was informed by relevant needs assessments, including those conducted for the Joint Strategic Plan and Children’s Services
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7 Plan. The ADP continue to review the data that is available, to underpin the direction of the priorities, and will revisit the overall needs assessment in 2023. Engagement and feedback from partner organisations and those with lived experience were used to inform the content of the strategy refresh. There is a recommendation that a subgroup of partners is identified to review data and measurement; to collate what information is available and how outcomes/progress can be measured. Medication Assisted Treatment Standards performance reporting is reported via the Integrated Performance Management Framework (IPMF), delivered by regulated services and considered by the Alcohol and Drug Partnership for information. This is also currently reported monthly to the Scottish Government. 5. CONTRIBUTION TO STRATEGIC PRIORITIES The 2020-2023 strategy pillars and refreshed 2023 priorities closely align to all four of the Argyll and Bute HSCP Joint Strategic Plan priorities. 6. GOVERNANCE IMPLICATIONS 6.1 Financial Impact It is anticipated that the updated priorities will be met through existing ADP and partner budgets. A spending plan will be developed for 2023/2024 and submitted to the ADP for approval. 6.1 Staff Governance It is not anticipated that the strategy refresh will impact on staff governance. 6.2 Clinical Governance There is no impact on existing clinical and care governance arrangements. 7. EQUALITY & DIVERSITY IMPLICATIONS An EQIA on the refreshed priorities is currently underway and any identified changes will be incorporated into the strategy refresh. 8. GENERAL DATA PROTECTION PRINCIPLES COMPLIANCE All work will align with existing GDPR principles and there are no additional GDPR implications of the strategy refresh. 9. RISK ASSESSMENT The existing processes within the HSCP to identify any critical and ongoing risks will be used. 10. PUBLIC & USER INVOLVEMENT & ENGAGEMENT
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8 The 2023 priorities were developed through user involvement and engagement via a strategy day held in February 2023. Further engagement will be sought during the EQIA process. 11. CONCLUSIONS The Alcohol and Drug Partnership support team and partners have undertaken a wealth of work over the past two years to meet the needs of our communities and reduce alcohol and drug related harm. Through consultation, the ADP has refreshed alcohol and drug partnership priorities for 2023 in Argyll and Bute and seeks to provide assurance that this work continues and is focused on areas of most need. 12. DIRECTIONS Directions required to Council, NHS Board or both. Directions to: tick No Directions required X Argyll & Bute Council NHS Highland Health Board Argyll & Bute Council and NHS Highland Health Board REPORT AUTHOR AND CONTACT Author Name: Jenny Dryden and Laura Stephenson, interim ADP coordinators Email: Jennifer.dryden@nhs.scot/ laura.stephenson2@nhs.scot
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9 Appendix 1. Argyll and Bute Alcohol and Drug Strategy Refresh: priorities for 2023