Agenda item

Presentation by the Contracts Manager and Executive Director of Services, We Are With You

The Contracts Manager and Executive Director of Services, We Are With You gave a presentation (previously circulated) updating Members on the Darlington drug and alcohol service.

It was reported that the service was founded in 1967 as Association for Parents of Addicts, became Addaction and following a rebrand was now known as With You.

The presentation gave a service overview, detailing the three key components which were clinical support, treatment and care and abstinence, recovery and wellbeing; and the priorities of the service were outlined. Reference was made to the challenges associated with the delivery site and to the need for partnership working was highlighted.

Members raised concern regarding the perceived lack of work by the new service; the Executive Director of Services acknowledged the need for improved communication with the local authority and stakeholders to ensure the work being delivered by the service was evident.

Members questioned the option of heroin assisted treatment; the Public Health Principal informed Members that this option was not in the current service specification, that national policy did not support this as a mainstream treatment and that it was not a cost effective treatment.

Discussion ensued regarding the location of the delivery site; access for vulnerable residents; and Members were assured that there was no waiting list to access the service.

Following a question regarding partnership working, Members were advised of a dual diagnosis pathway with TEWV and this would be extended to include Darlington; and Members were reminded of the outreach work of the ACCESS Team.

RESOLVED – That the Contracts Manager and Executive Director of Services, We Are With You, be thanked for their informative presentation.