Download Vulnerable young people

Exploring the future
role of services
Dave Liddell
1
The scale of the problem
2
Evidence of impact
3
Making Sense of the wider
picture
4
The future role of
services
The Scale of the problem
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1
50,000 problem drug users
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2
100,000? Vulnerable young people
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Young people who are:-
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Homeless
Looked After by the local authority
Sexually abused
Engaged in the sex industry
Cared for by parents who have a substance misuse problem
Early school leavers/regular truants from school
Experiencing mental health problems
Living in a family were there is significant criminal activity
Hyperactive or are diagnosed as ADHD
Evidence of impact
Source : Beckley Foundation Drug Policy Programme Reducing drug related crime: an
overview of the global evidence(2005)
Level of
prevention
Cost-effective
Promising
Probably not
cost-effective
Primary
Situational crime
prevention
Poverty reduction
Drug law
enforcement
Secondary
Support to families
and children
Some school based
education initiatives
Most drug
education
Tertiary
Drug treatment
Alternatives to
imprisonment
Large scale
imprisonment
Making sense of the wider picture (1)

'Delivering for Health' reduce inequalities in deprived
communities

Social Work - 21st Century Review

Joint Futures - Health & Social Work

Communities Scotland & Community Planning Partnerships –
Health & Community Safety

Criminal Justice Authorities

Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004

Housing – stock transfer, hostel closure and ‘right to buy’
Making sense of the wider picture (2)
Scottish Executive Drugs Division move from Health to Criminal
Justice. Improve links between Drug Treatment Services and:
1.
Criminal Justice Agencies
2.
Local Communities

Action Plans – Hep C, Drug-Related Deaths & Hidden Harm

Employability Framework – NFFI, Progress2Work, benefit
changes
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Drug Services – Quality Standards & Outcome Measures

Social Work Inspection Agency (SWIA) – drug and alcohol
inspections
Making sense of the wider picture (3)

Sure Start Scotland

Getting Our Priorities Right & Hidden Harm

Joint Inspection of Children's Services

Increased media and public focus on child safety rather
than broader child welfare (death of Caleb Ness)?

Foster Care Recruitment Crisis?
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Role of social work children and family teams increasingly
difficult
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Staff morale, crisis management
Future role of services
Children’s services
Need for Improved response to the most vulnerable
Key issues
Attitudes/ training
Resource Targeting v Crisis Management
Better engagement with the most vulnerable young people and the their parents/carers
Better links with adult services
Greater use of local resources/people in areas where problems most concentrated
For examples:
Widen financial support for Kinship Carers e.g. GCC decision for carers of 1128 children
& young people.
Recruit “Foster Grandparents” – developmental role for New Deal 50 plus or Volunteer
Development Scotland.
Future role of services
Young people’s drug services
Database of 214 Specialist Drug Services in Scotland

80 agencies claim to offer a service to Under 16’s – approx. 50/50
split between Vol. & SW/Health
There is a need for:1
increased resources, security of funding
2
National coverage and a consistent quality and general approach
3
Improved support and partnership working with adult services
4
Work with looked after/young people leaving care
Future role of services
Treatment and care services
Significant funding began in Scotland 20 years ago with
community/social focus
Have had various shifts in emphasis.
Community/social ► Health ► Criminal Justice ► Community/social?
There is an emergence of a wider role for treatment and care services
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Family focus
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Employability
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Housing/accommodation
Future role of services
Treatment and care services
Family Engagement Workers – national funding required to offer
support and bridge gaps between Parents, Children & Family
Services & Drug Agencies.
 59 agencies offer “outreach clinics”
 What do outreach services look like?
More lower threshold treatment services to avoid drug users
engaging in harmful behaviour to meet service criteria!
Conclusions
Vulnerable Young people – improved services prior to drug problems
Emerging
Young people’s drug services – ensure national coverage of quality
provision
Adult treatment and care services
– improved accessibility (outreach models)
- development of family focus and wider holistic services
How do we get there?
More ambitious vision re drug prevention
Peter Bates scoping exercise and DAAT review
Parliamentary inquiry?