Agenda item

Anne Charlesworth, Head of Drugs, Alcohol, Primary Care and NHS Contracts, Public Health

Malc Chiddy, Drug Intervention Programme Strategic Manager, presented a report on the above.

The Council, in partnership with Lifeline (Alcohol and Drug ‘Tier 2’ provider service) had been successful in securing £875,000 capital funding from Public Health England to purchase and refit suitable premises as a Rotherham Recovery Hub to support recovery from drug and alcohol dependence. 

The recovery services currently commissioned from RDaSH, alongside Lifeline and other services, would be relocated to the ‘Hub’ which was expected to be open from April, 2015.

The capital grant scheme was made available to support the recovery focus of the coalition government.  Group work, housing, employment, training and lifestyle activities would be provided in a welcoming environment away from the main clinical treatment base offering some respite for Service users and avoiding them coming into contact constantly with other active drug users.

There had been a substantial level of interest in the funding with over 200 bids submitted.  Rotherham’s funding allocation had been the single largest grant agreed.

The ex-Youth Offending Service building, ‘Carnson House’, had been purchased with the process of planning and redevelopment already underway.  It was estimated that the premises would be open for use by 1^st April, 2015 and fully completed by July, 2015.

Under the funding grant, the premises were owned outright by Lifeline but were to be made available for up to 20 years to Rotherham as a Recovery Hub.  After that time the premises became a Lifeline asset to use or dispose of as they saw fit, however, the 20 year timescale could be reduced at any time by the Authority giving the appropriate notice.

Discussion ensued with the following issues raised/clarified:-

-          RDaSH would also be in the building

-          A management group had been set up and had had its first meeting

-          The Hub had to be made available for Alcohol and Drug Services in Rotherham for 20 years as a grant condition

-          The building had been used by the Youth Offending Service for the past 20 years so no problems were anticipated from nearby residents and there was little concern regarding the present centres at Lifeline and Clearways.

-          It was a recovery hub and not a drop-in centre – it was those during their recovery stage that would be provided support.  There would be a programme of work covering debt management, employment, housing, ongoing health etc. with partners brought in to support

-          Both Lifeline and RDaSH worked on recovery now and had ways of measuring such.  It did not have to be total abstinence but massive steps towards it and getting their life back in order.  The main subjects would be housing, training/employment and relationships which were the areas that helped with recovery

-          Clients would be seen by a Clinical Worker regarding medication/injections away from the Centre – it would purely be recovery workers they saw at the Hub although the 2 workers would be in contact

-          Success was measured by someone not coming back into treatment for 6 months

-          Clients would be offered a 12 weeks recovery programme on a rolling basis but would not be expected to stay in the Service for more than 6 months.  Exact numbers were being worked up and it was expected there would be an increase to those using services at the moment

-           It would not be a 9-5 service.  The building would be available for other services such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous in the evening.  It was hoped to have evening and weekend sessions but it would not be 24:7 because of staff time. The focus would be on what was best for the service users

-          Assurance had been received from the Planning Service that, due to the premises’ previous use for more than 10 years, planning permission was not required for change of use

Councillor Doyle, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health, stated that funding had been awarded due to the excellent innovative scheme illustrating joint work across a number of different agencies.  He also reported that he would request that all relevant Ward Members were kept fully informed and involved with the scheme so they could allay any fears that arose from members of the public.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the report be noted.

(2)  That a visit to the premises be made once the project was up and running.