Archived decisions

REPORT OF THE

EXECUTIVE MEMBER

ADULT SOCIAL CARE

PART II

APPROVAL OF THE NEXT STAGE OF THE SUBSTANCE MISUSE STRATEGIC REVIEW - THE DEVELOPMENT PLAN (FOLLOWING CONSULTATION)

Effective substance misuse services play a significant part in supporting two of the corporate priorities, Hampshire safer and more secure for all and Maximising Wellbeing. By promoting treatment services and encouraging users (including known offenders) to take up treatment options there is a known correlation between numbers entering treatment and a reduction in crime rates. Treatment and harm minimisation services also have a significant impact on the health and wellbeing of individuals, their families, carers and communities.

A countywide strategic review of substance misuse services was launched during July 2008 and a formal consultation process, based upon a strategic review information pack, took place between 2 October 2008 and 2 January 2009. The need to undertake a substance misuse strategic review and consult appropriately was prompted by the following key issues:

    · a significant reduction in the central allocation of ring-fenced funding for drugs services over the next 3 years;

    · the need to rationalise current commissioning arrangements and

    · the requirement to provide a robust commissioning strategy for both drugs and alcohol.

There was a wide range of responses to the consultation exercise but a need for the following issues to be addressed were consistently recorded amongst the responses received.

    · The need for a treatment system which has clear referral pathways that support recovery;

    · Improvements to the current approaches in place to address issues of substance misusing parents and hence to reduce the harm caused to individuals, families and communities;

    · Improvements in strategic links with a range of agencies including housing and employment in order to deliver reintegration and improved social functioning;

    · Improvements in the level of investment in alcohol services

Many of the key priorities and objectives identified by respondents are already underway or aspired to within the existing treatment model and the consultation responses indicated that several aspects of existing services were already felt to be working well. Any realignment to existing service provision would therefore seek to build upon the existing clear referral pathways, good inter-agency working, low waiting times for drug clients; skilled committed professionals with a willingness to improve and the joint working being done at a strategic level regarding domestic abuse and drug and alcohol issues.

The proposed new treatment system model for Hampshire envisages a single countywide substance misuse model which will include services for criminal justice clients, drug clients and alcohol clients with a clear responsibility to respond to needs and address inequalities as a contractual requirement. Irrespective of the point of presentation, an initial holistic assessment of service user, carer and family needs will be documented and agreed in a care plan with a specialist practitioner. All treatment and care needs will then be delivered by the most appropriate practitioner/ professional and as necessary linked in to mainstream services in order to deliver and achieve the outcomes identified in the care plan.

In terms of future commissioning of services, the Drug & Alcohol Action Team (DAAT), NHS Hampshire & Hampshire County Council Adult Services have all committed to exploring the opportunities afforded by Health Act flexibilities in order to consolidate the current commissioning arrangements. The Executive member therefore endorsed the principle of seeking to create a commissioning, contracting, payments and performance monitoring process, hosted by the DAAT, which will align the commissioning processes of the PCT, Adult Services and the DAAT. These arrangements would be planned to come into effect from 2010.

In order to deliver the Joint Commissioning proposals supporting realigned services, the Executive Member gave her support to the proposal for relevant partner agencies to work together as part of a `Commissioning Board, ' jointly commissioning as one and combining to use all available Substance Misuse funding streams. In terms of the need for transparency and the need to link the substance misuse agenda to the emerging processes associated with the Local Area Agreement (LAA), the Executive Member also gave her `in principle' support to an accountability structure which would see substance misuse proposals and initiatives fed up through various Partnership Boards to the (Chief Officer level) LAA Executive Board and then on to the (elected Member) Hampshire Senate, as appropriate.

The Executive Member accepted the outcome of the consultation and emerging themes as the basis for future service delivery and commissioning arrangements and also accepted the financial forecast associated with the future service delivery and commissioning arrangements. The Executive Member also requested that a further report be brought forward on completion of the Implementation Plan seeking authority to tender for the new treatment system.

Full details of the report agreed by the Executive member are at /decisions/decisions-docs/090626-ascexc-R0619150055

          FELICITY HINDSON, MBE

          Executive Member for Adult Social Care