halton.uk

1. www.halton.gov.uk

2. How Patient Opinion is Improving Substance Misuse Commissioning in Halton Steve Eastwood; Substance Misuse Commissioner

3. Halton – the place • Population of around 118,000 • Two towns; Widnes & Runcorn • 27th most deprived Borough in the country • Higher than the Northwest average for unemployment • Life expectancy lower than National & NW averages • Alclhol sts??? • 1000+ individuals in contact with substance misuse services • Heroin & crack users predominantly over 30 yrs old • Alcohol, cannabis & cocaine predominantly under 30 yrs old • An estimated 500 injectors; heroin, crack cocaine, steroids

4. Core Values • Flexible & accessible • Involve the people who use the service in decision making • Maximise people’s health, well being & participation in the rights, roles & responsibilities of society

5. Halton’s Substance Misuse Service Harm Reduction N/Ex, BBV Interventions, Overdose Prevention GP Shared Care Specialist Mental Health Services Carers/Family Assessment & Support Pharmacy Observed Consumption & N/Ex Job Centre Plus 3 Integrated Offender Management Team Single Point of Assessment Recovery Plan Peer Mentoring, Narcotics Anonymous, SMART Recovery Detox & Rehab Domestic Abuse Support IWST Assertive Outreach Medically Assisted Recovery Housing Floating Support Holistic Therapies Health Improvement Team Children’s Centres

6. How Patient Opinion Has Improved Our Commissioning • Hearing what is important to people who use the service. • Providing qualitative information on the benefits the service delivers • Providing a means of direct communication. • Supporting recovery by encouraging participation.

7. A Carers Voice Four months ago I thought my life and world had come to an end. Why? My oldest son is a heroin addict, my daughter thought I was just here to be her personal servant and nanny, my youngest son who is the only one who ever helped me is due to leave home to go to university, and my husband (of 26 years) and I did nothing but argue. All this on top of trying to live with my Crohn's disease. What happened next? One day the phone rang and I answered it. It was my son's worker from Ashley House. I had a short conversation and she invited me to come to Ashley House. Since that day I have never looked back. The carers lead took me under her wing . She talked to me as though I were a human being. Not just something to be trampled on and abused. She arranged for me to have counselling. Unfortunately the situation at home escalated - police coming to my door, my daughter laughing at me and telling me I was 'making myself into a victim'. Life became so hard I thought the only way out was to end it. I ended up in hospital. After treatment there I decided nobody was ever going to get me to that point again. What happens now? I'm still having treatment for depression provided now through my GP. I still go to Ashley House every week. I attend the treatment group provided there. I can have a facial, a massage or various other treatments to help me relax. The main thing is I am getting out (which I didn't before) and meeting wonderful caring people. My son is still an addict, and my daughter still thinks I'm a bit of a joke. Seeing the change in me, my husband has changed and we are now closer than ever. I am beginning to get a life. All thanks to a chance phone and the angels at Ashley House. I am now coping. Thank you!!!

8. A Service User’s Story I have been going to AA for over 4 years, I had a period of not drinking which lasted 17 months. During this time I swapped the alcohol for cannabis and painkillers, I didn't realise it at the time but my life was/is unmanageable. I called the NA helpline in the summer of last year and I was put in touch with Ashley House. I went straight to the abstinence group in Runcorn which I attended 5 days a week. After 20 weeks I realised I was still struggling. A few times I used cannabis and pain killers and I was not honest with myself or my peers. The counsellors at Ashley House seem to really understand what I am going through and they have been the only people so far that I feel I can be honest with. I am recovering at my own pace with the people I trust. I was gutted when I heard that this might no longer be able to happen. I am pleased to tell you that Addaction have been awarded the contract to continue with the Abstinence & Recovery service in Halton. As a leading provider of drug and alcohol services I am sure they will bring considerable enthusiasm and knowledge to this area. And as they already provide a number of other services in Ashley House they will also bring a continuity of care. As the Commissioner I will now be sorting out a series of meetings over the next week or two so that we can make sure that the Abstinence & Recovery service carries on with as little disruption as possible. watch this space for further information as that work goes on. Once again I'd like to thank all of those who have made their views known on this subject and have worked with us to make sure this particular service is not 'lost'. It has been extremely encouraging to see so many people come together to find a positive solution to the situation we all found ourselves in. Thanks again, Steve, Joint Commissioning Manager

9. Ashley House – Patient Opinion 13 General Praise Praise for Key Worker 15 CIC Employment Service 1 ARCH 2 Community Alcohol Team 1 1 6 CDT Positives 78 responses SHAP Waiting room experiences 1 2 3 Help for carers TTP 7 Need service in Runcorn 1 1 Increased confidence 4 Negative experience with staff 5 VIDA 2 Outreach team 9 4 Needle exchange Help from support group 5 2 1 Referred by other agency Negatives 9 responses No contact made Life changing experience Inappropriate literature in waiting room 1

10. Future Developments • Consultations • Challenging Stigma & Discrimination • Service Improvements • Providing evidence to support compliance with standards

11. Thank You Any Questions