News & events
Back to Drug Interventions Programme (DIP) E-bulletinsDIP E-bulletin - August 2008
Welcome to the August 2008 edition of the monthly e-bulletin for the Drug Interventions Programme.
New DIP factsheet set is launched
DIP has launched the first of a set of factsheets that aim to provide themed information on key topics of interest to stakeholders.
The first in the set is a two page overview of the impact DIP is having in terms of reducing re-offending and the wider benefits. This will be followed in September by a second factsheet about how DIP fits into the government’s plans for reducing crime and the harm caused by drugs.
Each factsheet will be available to download from our website for local colour printing. They can be found alongside the full range of DIP communications materials.
Anyone wishing to put forward a suggestion of a factsheet topic for consideration by the DIP senior management team should e-mail gillian.radcliffe@coi.gsi.gov.uk
New DIP case studies now online
A new set of DIP success stories, about how the programme has changed the lives of individual clients, has now been published.
The document currently provides details of 24 cases from around the country.
The stories include examples of where some of DIP’s newer interventions, such as Required Assessment and Restriction on Bail, have helped drug-misusing offenders to be identified and to engage with services that can help them work towards a drug and crime-free lifestyle.
The document will be refreshed twice a year but new stories can be submitted at any time for inclusion in the next review. To submit a case, please ask for a template for completion. By emailing gillian.radcliffe@coi.gsi.gov.uk
Improving practice in housing for drug users
Improving Practice in Housing for Drug Users – A Partnership Project is a new practice paper offering 13 case studies to show how housing, drug and mental health services have worked together to find sustainable and successful housing solutions for drug users.
It is aimed primarily at informing and helping those involved in commissioning, planning and delivering housing services, related residential rehabilitation and support services for drug users. It will also be of interest to anyone working with drug users with related housing needs through the criminal justice system, health and social care (hospital and community-based services) or those working with vulnerable groups. By adopting some of the approaches set out in the paper, local areas can help prevent homelessness, reduce crime and anti-social behaviour, as well as help service users tackle their drug use and improve their health and social well-being.
Findings and solutions described in the paper highlight the importance of a comprehensive and integrated approach to planning, commissioning and delivering housing and related support services for drug users.
For those who were unable to attend a national seminar on this topic on 25 July, please visit the housing seminar webpage which has been updated to include contents of the delegate pack, and presentations used on the day. A seminar report will be available in October.
Guide for dealing with substance misusers with mental health problems
A new practitioners’ guide has been produced to provide advice to CJITs on dealing with substance-misusing clients with mental health problems. This may also be useful to other service providers.
While it is not the core role of CJITs to manage or treat the mental health element of a client’s co-occurring mental health problems, it is important to be able to recognise and refer clients with these problems to appropriate care and with the appropriate degree of urgency.
The Home Office’s Drug Interventions Programme and the Drug Strategy Unit commissioned the guide, which includes contributions from a wide range of stakeholders. It was informed by a working group from the Specialist Clinical Addiction Network (SCAN) and a steering group comprised of:
- the Department of Health
- the Royal College of General Practitioners
- Royal College of Psychiatrists
- British Psychological Society
- Royal College of Nursing
- National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse (NTA)
- the National Institute for Mental Health in England (NIMHE), which is part of the Care Services Improvement Partnership (CSIP)
- National Offender Management Service
- Drug Strategy Unit
- Health and Offender Partnerships
- mental health commissioners
- agencies involved in the organisation and delivery of substance misuse and mental health services
- CJITs
Further copies of the paper and a Microsoft Word version of the template can be downloaded from the DIP Mental Health page and Specialist Clinical Addiction Network (SCAN) website (new window).
Tackling Drugs Changing Lives Awards – last call for nominations
Time is running out to nominate a local hero for a national award. The Tackling Drugs Changing Lives Awards recognise, reward and celebrate people who have made an outstanding contribution to tackling drugs and have gone the extra mile to transform lives and local communities through their work.
If you know a team or individual who deserves an award for the work they do there is still time to make a last minute nomination. Fill in a nomination form online before 31 August.
Your nominee might win one of ten regional awards and will be in with a chance of receiving one of the two national awards. The two national winners will each receive £10,000 to expand their organisation’s work.
Anyone can make a nomination and nominees can come from any sector of the drugs field – drug treatment providers, police teams, prison officers, social workers, housing workers, or drug action teams. Learn more about last year’s winners and the judging criteria. Make a nomination now!
Link to latest Key Messages
The latest Key Messages for DIP provide a ‘core script’ to describe the various elements of the programme and the key points that should be understood about them. This can be a useful resource when preparing reports, briefings and other publications about DIP and it is reviewed and updated every two months. The August/September edition is now available.
