You Said We Did - Drug and Alcohol Needs Assessment Engagement

Drug and alcohol litter is an issue 

Tameside Public Health and other relevant partners to work with Tameside Licensing team to review the need for cumulative impact policies around alcohol licensing across Tameside.

Public safety needs increasing.

Anti-social behaviour relating to drug and alcohol use especially in town centres

More police enforcement needed

Focussed work to be carried out on feeling safe in our communities, with a focus on transport, the nighttime economy and events such as gatherings and festivals. 

Worries around young people especially in the school setting

Continue to ensure there is bespoke support in place for children and young people regarding education and awareness raising around the harms of drugs and alcohol, through brief interventions, structured treatment if required and outreach. This can also link to the broader Drug, Alcohol & Tobacco curriculum which is in place and provided for all mainstream education settings in Tameside, to provide broader education and awareness raising

Awareness needed of the treatment and recovery offer commissioned by Public Health 

Marketing and communication plan to include a planned programme to promote and raise awareness of the local treatment service, including particular focus on awareness of the dedicated children & young people’s offer (currently Branching Out), including the Concerned Others offer, to staff and professionals across relevant partner agencies – with a focus on services available, pathways, referrals.

Continuation of the trusted and valued relationships between service users and providers 

Compliments around the varied menu of interventions and activities offered by the service provider

Continued work through contract management, feedback and case studies 

Need for a more flexible service for neurodiversity 

This has been taken into consideration and the service now offer appointments to suit individual need. All staff have been trained in neurodiversity and current neurodiverse staff are champions. 

Professional feedback and communication channels for partners joint working on specific cases and support 

Continue to ensure system-wide accountability and input to tackling substance misuse harms across key forums in Tameside including the Health & Wellbeing Board, Community Safety Partnership, Tameside Strategic Partnership Board, Tameside Safeguarding Children’s Partnership, and the Tameside Adult Safeguarding Partnership Board.

Ensure where appropriate the treatment service are in attendance at key meetings with adult and children’s social care services about hidden harm caseloads across adults and CYP. This is important due to the high proportion (c. 70%) of service users who report that they live with Children, whom do not have any form of Children’s Services input (eg. Early Help) 

Ongoing engagement between partner agencies and the treatment service to ensure clarity of roles across the system and appropriate, timely referrals into the treatment service and vice versa.

Access to services outside of working hours is needed 

Evening appointment for both structured support and drop in will now be offered.

Fear of stigma and being judged 

The current service is very sensitive to stigma and how this can affect individuals and their families. Tameside will be taking part in a piece of work with all local authorities in GMCA (Greater Manchester Combined Authority) to contribute to an snit-stigma charter. 

Value placed on learning from those with lived experience 

Foster peer support networks and recovery communities through a focus on LERO’s, lived experience volunteers working alongside the treatment service and recognising the benefits that the treatment service brings in its recruitment of staff with lived experience.