Agenda item

Charlotte Ashton and Emma Stubbs, Islington Public Health were present for discussion of this matter and made a presentation to the Committee, a copy of which is interleaved. A service user was also present.

During discussion the following main points were made –

·         Substance misuse services have been part of a programme of transformation and redesign since 2014 and savings of £2.3 million have been delivered since 2014/15

·         Public Health commissioners are committed to finding a further £1.3 million savings. It is anticipated that by the start of the new contract 2018/19 the cost of services in the scope of this programme will be £4,900,000. This represents a 23% reduction on current 2016/17 contract values

·         Services have historically been commissioned via a range of different funding streams and as a result the different parts of the drug and alcohol treatment service pathway have been designed and commissioned separately. Consequently different service types are provided through the same providers and some areas of provision are provided by several providers

·         Pathways and referral routes into services can be complex and confusing and service users face multiple assessment, hand over and case working arrangements

·         Due to the current challenges facing local authorities there is a need to ensure that services are operating as effectively and efficiently as possible

·         The vision for the redesigned service is to continue to improve recovery outcomes, increase uptake of the most appropriate treatment for those who need it and ensure the treatment pathway meets the changing needs of the population of drug and alcohol users

·         The specification for the new service model will be co-produced with a wide range of stakeholders, and most importantly, users. Key elements will be a single point of contact, focus on service users outcomes, think Family embedded within all aspects of the service, ensuring the right kind of specialist support is tailored to meet service user needs, expert advice to partners across the system in identifying needs, and a strong emphasis on recovery and social resilience

·         It was noted that the new service would simplify the system and the service user stated that this would in his view be the case and lead to a more integrated service and would put service users at the forefront in order to facilitate services needed and the new proposals would involve service users to improve outcomes

·         It was stated that the high level of NEET’s needing services needed to be addressed and outcomes improved. It was stated that work is taking place with community safety and PREVENT to engage this group and the focus would be to direct users to community based services rather than specific hubs

·         It was noted that VCS discussions had taken place with VCS organisations to discuss the model to be introduced and how they could tie in with community providers to access services and to promote what is available in the community to make them an offer they can utilise

·         It was also noted that the Drug and Alcohol service also linked in with problem families and work is taking place with mental health services and that the service was optimistic that the new proposals would improve outcomes and access to services for service users

The Chair thanked Emma Stubbs and Charlotte Ashton for attending