Aims and objectives:
WAM aims:
To ensure siblings, children and friends (under 19 yrs old) of substance users access and receive support and information on substance use/misuse.
To work in partnership with other agencies to raise awareness of the needs of our target group.
Launched in 2000, our work is now a model of good practice, which is due in part due to the national profile of this vulnerable group being highlighted in such documents as ‘Hidden Harm” – Responding to the needs of children of problem drug users, a report published in June 2003 by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs.
Which recommends:
6. The voices of the children of problem drug users should be heard and listened to.
7. Work is required to develop means of enabling the children of problem drug users safely to express their thoughts, feelings and concerns.
21. PCT’s should have clear arrangements for ensuring that the children of problem drug and alcohol users in their area are able to benefit from appropriate services.
22. PCT’s providing services for problem drug users should ensure that the health and well being of their children are also being met.
The PCT’s can record the WAM service as part of their Key Targets to enhance access to drug treatment and support services. But also ensure that joint working protocols coming from the primary care vulnerable children agenda is sustained and improved as the service expands and develops.
Support for the change:
Through this video we have achieved a substantially increased awareness throughout the provider arm of all associated PCTs (Health visitors etc). We have influenced the views of children services, highlighting the need of this vulnerable client group and ensuring that WAM is a known and accepted partner in providing care for these children.
Patient and public influence:
The film was written in consultation with local drug treatment service users, families and young people. The story reflects real experiences and is a high impact resource that gets the message across very quickly. The roll out of this film and therefore the increased awareness has meant shorter waiting times and increased access to services as more rural centres and one stop shops are set up, as well as supporting the target of more drug and alcohol users getting into treatment.
Impact on the workforce:
The increased support for more drug treatment and support services has led to the Nottinghamshire Drug and Alcohol Action Team surpassing their target for workforce development, set by the National Treatment Agency in 2004. The number of workers has increased from 58 to 230 over a period of 30 months.
Hettys and WAM are known as an ideal first entry into the field, as we have a well-established volunteering program, which has placed 15 people into the field over the years.
Measuring the results:
WAM is performance managed through a service level agreement with the DAAT and enters all performance data onto the regional BOMIC System, hence we can see referrals to WAM have increased 500% over the last 2 two years.
WAM works closely with the CAMHS Head 2 Head and provides valuable Tier 1, and Tier 2 supporting service, as described in the Tier System, Health Advisory Service (HAS).
Many of our referrals also come through Social Services; we have an excellent working partnership with many SSD service managers e.g. Looked After Department and Family Resource Teams.
Other referral pathways include School Nurses, Teachers and Drug Treatment services.
WAM also delivers sessions in Secure Units, Pupil Referral Units, Youth Offending Institutions and we work closely with Prisons and the Criminal Justice Treatment.
Improved performance:
The service is highlighted as a pathfinder service and leads the way in helping other regions set up similar models of good practice.
WAM has also been involved in a consultancy capacity in the development of the Journeys Series for children and young people and professionals working with the same. This series, produced by ADFAM (The National Umbrella Body), follows the journeys that families may take living with a user and compliments the national series of booklets already published for parents, partners and grandparents.
Reflecting diversity:
The video depicts the harsh reality of a family coping with substance misuse and challenges the stereotyping and judgements around drug use.
Also it has been made in an ex-coalfield town, which allows more rural areas to identify with the issues rather than using the usual inner city deprivation stereotypes.
Sharing the learning:
The video has been short listed for a Glaxo Smith Kline Innovation Award and we await the outcome of the final decisions in December.
It was shown at the National Treatment Agency Board meeting in the Summer, has been requested and shown at numerous regional and national conferences and won the Bassetlaw Learning Together Award in May 2004.
The film has been shown to over 17,000 adults across Nottinghamshire, which have included many NHS, Education and Social Service professionals alongside the local community members in LSP's, Councils and neighbourhood forums.
Outstanding features:
Whilst the video was originally made for schools, feedback from the launch said, "Everybody needs to see this film", so we have set about rolling it out across the county and gained a Coalfield Regeneration Grant to help us pay sessional workers to take into communities at all levels. This roll out has changed attitudes across all sectors.
