Commissioning Update Drug Action Team (DAT)

IOW Joint Commissioning Group (JCG)

March 2010
Overview:

Staffing 
•	The new DAAT Commissioner commenced in her role from 4th January 2010
•	The Tier 4 Care Manager has been on long-term sick since October 2009; the DAAT has been able to secure some support to cover this role through the Local Authority, although this only provides support for 1 day per week. An update on the position is expected in late March 
•	The DAAT has a vacancy for a Partnership Support Officer with the present incumbent having left in February 2010. The role has been advertised internally within the Authority and interviews are scheduled for 30th March 2010
•	The Service User Coordinator role was initially only funded until March 2010, but an extension has been agreed: initially until May 2010
•	The A&E Alcohol Nurse Specialist moved to a new role within the PCT in December 2009 and a decision was made not to replace the role, but to utilise the funding in developing interventions at Tier 1 and 2    

The ongoing absences of personnel and the overall lack of experience within their roles across the DAAT have continued to place some stress on the Team but they have coped tremendously and their dedication and application should be recognised.  

Contracts
•	The Pharmacy BBV contract has now been extended to cover testing for HIV and Syphilis: this was launched on 1 December 2009 (World Aids Day) and attended by the Chief Pharmaceutical Officer for England
•	The Needle Return Bin project has shown very good returns with an estimated 200 needles being retuned each week through Boots in Ryde; together with Boots Newport the returns have shown a 50 times increase. Dependent upon budget constraints the pilot is likely to be extended across other Pharmacies in 2010/11
•	Funding for the Drug Interventions Programme (DIP) for 2010/11 has been assessed against a new funding model. The amount to be provided by the Home Office has not altered from the current value of £121,413, however there are additional requirements on the DIP Provider in line with a new Operational Manual 

Public/Professional education
•	The DAAT attended the Partners Against Crime event at Medina Leisure Centre in February 2010 with stands for RESULT, the DAAT and Get Sorted. The DAAT also provided a display of “mocktails’” to allow the public to taste a variety of non-alcoholic drinks. The opportunity was taken to obtain a snapshot of the public understanding and knowledge of alcohol units and the “legal high” Mephedrone” (also known as MCAT; Miaow amongst other names) 
•	An event was held on Tuesday 16th March on Mephedrone and other “Legal Highs” to provide education for professionals from various agencies – the event was well attended with other 50 attendees   
 
Treatment Plans 
•	The draft Young People’s Treatment Plan attracted few comments from the NTA and the Final document was resubmitted in January 2010. A copy will be added to the relevant pages of the DAAT website by 31 March 
•	The draft Adult Treatment Plan raised some queries with the NTA and these have been addressed by the DAAT Team and the full response is due to be returned to the NTA by 19th March; again a copy of the Plan will be added to the website by 31 March

Budgets   
•	The DAAT has received the allocation for 2010/11 from the NTA – the figure of £862,565 represents a cut of 6% on the previous year; a “Blue Sky Thinking” event was held on 12th March of the Commissioners and Providers to look at innovative ways to maintain the Quality of the DAAT Services and increase the integration across Providers    
•	Funding has been provided in previous years to Probation for a 0.5 FTE post based within the Provider CRI; this funding (£15,913)has been ceased for 2010/11 as no perceivable benefits were received by the DAAT; and will assist in covering the reduction made by the NTA
•	The YOT post within Get Sorted YPSM is part-funded by the DAAT and discussion have been held with the relevant parties regarding confirmation of funding for 2010/11 - £10,000 for salary/on-costs and £6,000 for expenses. It is recommended that this funding continues.     

Substance Misuse Action Group (SMAG) Progress Report:

Alcohol services:
•	A full review of the Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy is being undertaken by the DAAT and PCT Commissioners and it is anticipated that the draft will be available for presentation to the June 2009 meeting of the JCG
•	The Arrest Referral Service funded by LPSA Reward moneys continues until March 2011 and the opportunity is being taken to refresh the project to ensure maximum outcomes are achieved   
•	As indicated above, with the resignation of the A&E Alcohol Nurse Specialist role the opportunity has been taken by the PCT to terminate the role (funding for this role was predominantly from PCT Choosing Health funds with a “Top-up” by the DAAT) – the use of the funds is to be redirected towards brief intervention and education work at Tier 1 and 2  

Employment and Education:
•	The report from the Citizens Advice Bureau relating to the 3-month pilot project was received in December 2009 – this indicated that over 100 Service Users were supported (mostly with benefit queries). Input from IDAS and Cranstoun has placed doubt on the validity on the support provided, principally as the workers could not relate to the personal positions of the relevant Service Users. Due to this feedback, and the cost of the pilot (based on the cost of £9,808.95, this equates to c. £90 per session) the pilot will not be repeated.

Shared Care:
•	The report from Drug Treatment Limited (DTL) was presented to the JCG in August 2009 however to date the DAAT are awaiting a response from the PCT Commissioners to take the Action Plan detailed in the report forward. 

Blood Borne Viruses:
•	The BBV Screening pilot has been nationally recognised with a report prepared by The Hepatitis C Trust in January 2010; numbers have dropped off from the (expected) initial peak but still show a steady level of testing and injection for Hep B and testing for Hep C and HIV. 
•	Support is to be provided to Substance Misuse Treatment providers within their Services, by the BBV Care Manager at the DAAT on a regular basis to develop and improve testing by the services  

										Heather Arni
DAT Coordinator/ Commissioner