Case studies
Back to previous pageWomen’s Services Project hosted by Gwellheans drugs service, Cornwall
DAT(s): Cornwall and Isles of Scilly.
Region(s): South West.
Last updated: 18 March 2004
Summary: Women’s Services Project at a drugs service.
The need
Cornwall has a small and scattered population. About 40% of the population live in villages of less than 2000 people. With limited public transport and few main roads, it can be difficult for people in similar circumstances to meet together.
Nationally, women have been identified as accessing services less than men. In Cornwall, too, women appear to access services less than men. In 2002-03, 24% of referrals to Gwellheans drugs service were from women.
The idea
‘Gwellheans’ (Cornish for ‘Recovery’) is a registered charity based in Redruth, in West Cornwall. Gwellheans aims ‘to promote the care and rehabilitation of recovering alcohol and drug addicts through the provision of activities which prevent their suffering and chances of relapsing into substance misuse’.
Gwellheans is a non-residential facility but offers each of its clients an individually tailored structured day programme. This may involve both activities at Gwellheans and the use of other resources in the community.
The DAAT have funded Gwellheans to host a Women’s Services Project.
The aim of the Project is to improve information about, and access to, services for women both nationally and locally.
How it works
The current Women’s Services Project has built on the work of a pilot project, conducted in 2002-03. A steering group of women service users and staff undertook a number of activities, including the production of a handbook for women clients accessing services. It contains:
- advice for all areas of women’s lives, including careers, health (drug and alcohol use), and domestic violence;
- a directory of useful services;
- literature from other relevant organisations.
The directory of services and a concertina leaflet the size of a credit card about alcohol and drug services were distributed to GP surgeries and will be reissued shortly.
The pilot project was hosted by Gwellheans as some of its staff and clients were among the keenest members of the original consultative group. The initial funding was provided by the DAAT. Gwellheans used the money to employ a temporary administrative officer and support a range of consultative activities, culminating in a conference for women in March 2003.
Gwelheans and women users
Gwellheans seeks to improve its accessibility and increase client involvement in treatment. Therefore, it has engaged with women users through a specialist women’s group. This group offers ‘creative, therapeutic, educational and practical skills-based groups and activities’. The group continues to meet as part of Gwellheans’ day programme.
The DAAT identified Gwellheans as suitable for hosting the Women’s Services Project because it aims to:
- work with partner agencies;
- support client involvement; and
- increase the number of referrals of women users.
Women’s Services Project
As part of the DAAT-commissioned project that they will host, Gwellheans intends to:
- hold biannual planning and review events;
- establish a telephone helpline;
- create a service user forum;
- produce a website and newsletter;
- promote the development of specialist services for pregnant women or those in prison;
- provide information and training.
Gwellheans has now appointed a part-time Coordinator to organise and facilitate meetings. Gwellheans received applications and conducted interviews for the position. The person appointed was previously a client of Gwellheans.
The Project is forming its own committee and agenda for its work.
The DAAT are providing £5,000 in 2003 - 04, and £10,000 per year for the following two years. This money is from the Pooled Treatment Budget. The Project will seek additional funding to further its aims.
Key Benefits
Although it is early in the life of the Project, the proportion of clients accessing Gwellheans who are female has increased and now exceeds 30%.
The project intends to improve access to services not just at Gwellheans but across the county.
Comments
The current level of funding is sufficient only to appoint a Coordinator for one day a week, which limits the amount of work that she can undertake. The Project is fortunate that the Coordinator is committed and puts in extra effort. Gwellheans hopes that the Women’s Services Project will prove its worth in the long term, and sufficient funding will be found to support a full-time Coordinator post.
The DAAT is developing a wider and larger service-user forum which the Women’s Services Project can link up with. It is hoped that both initiatives will provide women service users with a much stronger voice in the provision and improvement of services.
Gwellheans believes that:
- recovery is often a difficult and lengthy process and, to be successful, help must be given to all the aspects of a person’s life;
- their clients are not a homogenous group and must be offered individually-tailored services;
- a wide range of resources should be made available for people recovering from substance misuse;
- people recovering from substance misuse must be fully involved in planning their future and working towards their own success.
Gwellheans plans to acquire additional premises as a result of its expansion.
In the future, Gwellheans also plans to:
- broaden its geographical base by expanding into the North and East of the county;
- create a drop-in facility for clients who do not necessarily have a particular group or activity, or want to self-refer.
For further information
Cornwall and IOS DAAT
Robert Crossland
DAT Coordinator
Chiltern House
City Road
Truro
Cornwall
TR1 2JL
Tel: 01872 354471
Email:
bob.crossland@centralpct.cornwall.nhs.uk
Gwellheans
Colin Bridges
Director
The Douglas Hocken Day Centre
Alma Place
Redruth
Cornwall
TR15 2AT
Tel: 01209 211825
Email:
info@gwellheans.co.uk
