Decision Session – Executive Member for Health and Adult Social Care	13 July 2022
Report of the Director of Public Health

Supplemental Substance Misuse Treatment and Recovery Grant and local Combatting Drugs Partnership

Summary

1. The report will give an overview of how the council will allocate resource from the Supplemental Substance Misuse Treatment and Recovery Grant over 2022/23, and its outline intentions for 2023/24 and 2024/25. This will support the national 10 year Drugs Strategy ‘From harm to hope’ published in December 2021.

2. It will also outline steps towards forming a ‘Combatting Drugs Partnership’, as pr national requirements for each local authority area

Recommendations

3. The Executive Member is asked to:

i) Approve the Supplemental Substance Misuse Treatment & Recovery Grant plan.

Reason: The plans have been written in partnership with several key organisations and with guidance from regional OHID leads.  These plans will support the needs of individuals requiring treatment and recovery services being met.

ii)      Approve the work towards forming a York Combatting Drugs Partnership.

Reason: To enhance partnership working around the Drugs and Alcohol agenda in York, in line with the national 10 year Drugs Strategy.

Background

4. The Supplemental Substance Misuse Treatment & Recovery Grant has been provided from central government to assist with the implementation of the 10 year From Harm to Hope drug plan. 

Summary of the plan includes:

· Strong local drugs partnerships with accountability to central government ae to be formed.

· A drugs needs assessment should be conducted to inform a local drug & alcohol strategy and action plan.

· Focus on reducing drug and alcohol related deaths

· For 2% of all people in treatment to access residential rehabilitation services (minimum target).

· National treatment capacity to increase by 20%, and an agreed 3 year trajectory locally that will contribute to national ambition.

· Expectation that the grant will be invested in improving quality – including by reducing caseloads and increasing the professional staff mix across many agencies.

5. York was allocated £325,566 in the first year, rising to £450,444 in year three, to support achieving these outcomes. Through engagement with the York Drug and Alcohol service, police, probation, and other partners, a plan has been developed.

6. The following is a summary of the 3 plan for York under the key headings set out by OHID:

Increased treatment and harm reduction capacity, including inpatient detoxification and residential rehabilitation

Years 1 and 2 to focus on pathways and JSNA, building a strong foundation of information and evidence to support further plans for increasing treatment places towards end of Year 2 and into Year 3.

Enhanced treatment quality

Year 1 and 2, review caseloads and training options.

Year 2/3, consider training needs and the ascertain number of workers across the system required to support reduction on caseloads.

Year 3 focus on recruitment to ensure reduction of caseloads and support quality of service provision.

Expanding and developing the workforce

Year 1 and 2 explore training needs and develop plan to support training plan.

Year 3 plan to expand workforce to support increase in treatment placements and consider specialist workers in other organisations

Reducing drug related deaths and improving access to mental and physical health care

Year 1 to undertake DARD review, look to explore pathways with secondary care for inpatients/out patients to ensure prompt referrals.  Under take review into Alcohol Care Team model.  Develop IBA and online alcohol reduction programme.

Year 2 look to review findings and build on recommendations and continue to strengthen pathways. This will assist with Year 3 plans.

Recovery orientated system of care, including peer-based recovery support services

Year 1 focus on mapping/reviewing current services and ensure those with lived experience, including family/carers/friends feed into future plans to shape relevant initiatives.  This will help to ensure by Year 3 there is a wide offer for individuals in recovery.

7. In addition, public health have led work locally to establish a York Drugs and Alcohol Partnership, in line with national guidance on creating these statutory groups, and working with North Yorkshire colleagues to bring together an ‘Alliance’ across the region to reflect the cross-boundary criminal justice organisations involved (for example North Yorkshire Police. The following simple diagram explains the emerging partnership structure.

Consultation

8. Discussions have taken place with many partners across York that support individuals who are affect by their drug and alcohol use.  Building on these conversations a partnership meeting took place to share and review the 3 year plan and spend for the first year (2022/23).    

9. The plan has been discussed at the Public Health Directorate Management Team meeting

Council Plan

10. The Supplemental Substance Misuse Treatment & Recovery Grant supports and contributes to aspects of the Council’s plan.  In particular Good Health & Wellbeing, Safe communities and culture for all and a better start for children and Young people.

11. Good Health & Wellbeing

An element of the plan focuses on Alcohol Harm reduction, in York we know that some people drink higher than the recommended amount and the long term affects on this on physical health can cause chronic illnesses which can shorten life expectancy. 

Those individuals already in treatment and recovery services have more complex physical and mental health needs which can also to attributed to lower life expectancy.

12. Safe communities and culture for all

A large component of the plan focuses on criminal justice and the link to drug and alcohol crime.  Working with the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, North Yorkshire Police, Probation and other council departments ensures those who need help and support to access services do so.  This can help with a reduction of reoffending a reduction in anti-social behaviour.

13. A better start for children and young people

Some work will be to strengthen services for those young people that require support with drug and alcohol issues, whilst also committing to carry out a preventative role through education and outreach.

Implications

14. Financial

Funding is provided by central government on a yearly basis.

Human Resources (HR)

No HR implications

Equalities

Equalities Impact Assessment completed – none identified

Legal

No direct implications

Crime and Disorder

Overall aim of the National plan is to assist with decreasing crime and disorder      

Information Technology (IT)

No IT implications

Property

No Property implications

Other

         None

Risk Management

15. No known risks

Contact Details

Author:	Chief Officer responsible for the report:
Ruth Hine Public Health Specialist Practitioner (Advanced) Public Health ruth.hine@york.gov.uk	Peter Roderick Public Health Consultant
	Report Approved	ü	Date	30/06/2022
Specialist Implications Officer(s) None
Wards Affected:					All	ü
For further information please contact the author of the report.

Background Papers:

Harm to Hope - https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1079147/From_harm_to_hope_PDF.pdf

Annexes

Annex A – Equalities Impact Assessment

Abbreviations

DARD  - Drug and Alcohol Related Deaths

IBA – (Alcohol) Identification and Brief Advice

JSNA – Joint Strategic Needs Assessment

OHID – Office for Health Improvement & Disparities