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DIP E-bulletin - September 2009

Welcome to the September 2009 edition of the monthly e-bulletin for the Drug Interventions Programme.

Milestone for numbers into treatment

More than 200,000 drug-misusing offenders have entered treatment through DIP since the Programme began in 2003, according to figures just published.

The news comes as the latest crime figures reveal that acquisitive crime – to which drug-related crime makes a substantial contribution - has fallen by 32 per cent since the Programme was launched six years ago.

Sally Richards, Head of Offender-based Interventions at the Home Office said, 'Reaching the milestone of over 200,000 people entering drug treatment through DIP is a major achievement and I know that many lives have been changed for the better as a result.  This would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of people in numerous organisations working together to make a real difference to communities.  Thank you all.'

DIP Review updates

Work is underway to action a series of recommendations from the recent DIP Review, which included proposals to revise the DIP operating model and the funding allocation model. 

A DIP Review Implementation Update has been introduced to keep key stakeholders informed of the progress of the various workstreams and the first edition has just been circulated to government Office leads, police strategic leads and board-level representatives of national delivery partner organisations.  It is intended the updates will be cascaded to relevant partners and colleagues by those recipients but, if you prefer to receive your own regular copy, please email your request to be added to the mailing list.

Training for police drug testing 'cascade trainers'

A series of training sessions for DIP drug testing 'cascade trainers' from each of the 21 DIP 'intensive' forces took place during August and September.
 
The training sessions were led by the drug testing supplier, Concateno Cozart, and the Home Office. The training, which has developed the capacity within forces to conduct training and manage performance, was delivered to 235 officers.
 
Each year the police conduct around 240,000 DIP drug tests, which are the key entry point into DIP. Given the scale of drug testing, the police recognise the importance of ensuring the detention officers who conduct tests maintain a high level of knowledge and skill.
 
Each force has a number of cascade trainers, who take responsibility for training those conducting DIP drug tests in police custody suites. They also monitor performance and act as a local point of contact for drug testers for procedural queries.
 
The Home Office also used the sessions to convey to cascade trainers how vital their role is in the wider context of DIP.

Download presentations from DIP and PPO conference

Stakeholders can now download presentations and other documents from this summer’s joint conference for DIP and the Prolific and other Priority Offender Programme (PPO) that focused on reducing crime through offender-based interventions.

The two day national conference was held in June at the International Convention Centre, Birmingham, and it provided an opportunity for stakeholders involved in the delivery of both programmes to hear about current and future key strategic challenges, to share good practice and to network.

The format of the first day had a strategic focus and included a number of key speakers, including Alan Campbell MP, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Crime Reduction. The second day consisted of a series of workshop sessions providing effective practice in areas such as approaches to managing offenders, tackling alcohol misuse and addressing housing needs for offenders.

The following publications, available from the DIP section of Drugs Website (new window) were also launched at the conference:

• PPO Refresh guidance
• IOM policy statement
• DIP Review Report
• New guidance on Housing Drug-misusing Offenders
• Around Arrest, Beyond Release 2

New guidance on managing continuity-of-care for drug misusing offenders

The Home Office and Ministry of Justice have published a joint guidance document entitled 'Drug Misusing Offenders: ensuring the continuity-of-care between prison and community'.

The publication follows an extensive consultation with front-line CJIT and prison substance misuse managers and workers, from January to March 2009.  This identified and tested solutions to gaps in the management and co-ordination of care for drug misusing offenders who transfer between community-based and prison-based treatment programmes.

The key benefits of the guidance are that it defines a clear continuity-of-care pathway along which drug misusing offenders should travel when transferring between the community and prison. It also clarifies, at each point along the journey, the respective roles and responsibilities of CJITs and Substance Misuse Teams.

Updated DIP films now available to download

The DIP 'Breaking Through' film, which provides an introduction to how the Programme works, has been updated and is now available to download in two versions.

The original film was issued on DVD.  Stocks have now run down and it has been decided to make the new version, which has an updated voiceover, as a download for stakeholders to watch online or burn onto DVD themselves.  The documentary-style 36-minute film now mentions more recently-introduced interventions such as Required Assessment.  A short version of the film, lasting just 6’30', is also available and may be useful during presentations and public events.

Vetting scheme for people working with children and vulnerable adults

The National Treatment Agency and relevant government departments are working closely with a new national vetting scheme to ensure that it does not introduce unintended consequences for the substance misuse workforce and service users.  

From July 2010, individuals who want to work or volunteer with children or vulnerable adults will be able to apply to become registered by the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA). Using data gathered by the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB), including relevant criminal convictions, cautions, police intelligence and information provided by a range of other sources, such as current and past employers and even individuals, the ISA will decide on a case-by-case basis whether each person poses a risk to children or vulnerable adults.

By the beginning of 2011 once the scheme has been fully rolled out,  employers who work with vulnerable people will only be allowed to recruit people who are ISA-registered. The ISA has produced some useful factsheets (new window) that outline the scheme.

Message of thanks for efforts during Tackling Drugs week

A message of thanks has been issued from the Home Office to delivery partners and other stakeholders who participated in June’s national Tackling Drugs week.

Alan Campbell MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Crime Reduction, said ministers were grateful to the hundreds of local agencies and police forces who took part by running a wide range of activities across England and Wales.

'The events and activities you organised have helped to raise the awareness of the huge amount of work you do on a daily basis to tackle drugs and reduce drug related crime.  I would like to thank again all those who go the extra mile to tackle drug use, work tirelessly to bring to justice dealers who blight our communities, educate youngsters about the dangers of drugs and support for friends and family of drug misusers in order secure a positive future. I know that this work is making our communities safer and happier places in which to live and work,' he said.

Home Office officials have invited partners to provide them with any feedback or information about this year’s event that will help with planning for next year’s.  This should be e-mailed to Amie Shallcross.

Diary date for October prison conference

The fourth annual prisons conference – aimed at DIP partners and those working in the National Offender Management Service - takes place in Leeds on 8/9 October.

The event, 'Prisons, probation and beyond… 2009', will include seminars on IDTS, crack cocaine, improving treatment/order completion rates, housing and employment issues, enhanced partnership working and planning for recovery.

Full details can be found online at the Prisons, Probation and Beyond Website (new window) or by e-mailing Mala

Link to latest Key Messages

The August/September edition of Key Messages for DIP is online.

This can be a useful resource when preparing community presentations, news releases, reports, briefings and other publications about DIP and it is reviewed and updated every two months.  The document will continue to be available to stakeholders and delivery partners in this format, but a more concise set of high-level messages aimed at communities is currently being finalised.

Your views, please!

This month, we invite your views on a proposed merger of the Drugs Newsletter and the Drugs Interventions Programme (DIP) e-bulletin. We would be grateful for responses by 31 October to the following questions and any further comments and/or suggestions you may have on the proposed approach:

1. Do you receive either or both the DIP e-bulletin and Drugs Newsletter?

DIP e-bulletin only          

Both

2. Would you be interested in receiving a single Drugs newsletter including a DIP section?  

Yes            

No               

Don’t mind

3. How do you receive your copy of the Drugs Newsletter?

4. Would you agree to your e-mail details being transferred to a merged distribution list between DIP and the Drug Strategy Unit?

Yes       

No     

Don’t mind

5. What are your views on the new format and frequency of the Drugs Newsletter?

6. What would you like to see more/less of in the Drugs Newsletter?

Please feel free to add any other comments and forward your responses to Gillian Radcliffe.  Many thanks for your feedback.

We want to reach as many stakeholders as possible across the criminal justice system, the treatment sector and among agencies providing wraparound or re-integration services for drug-misusing offenders.  Please forward this e-mail to any colleagues who might benefit from it and encourage them to subscribe.  If you would prefer not to receive e-bulletins in future, please unsubscribe.