Choosing the right path
Warwickshire Young Persons Substance Misuse Referral Pathway Event
"Choosing the right path" on 30th Jan 2007 was a significant event for Warwickshire Drug & Alcohol Action Team.
Around 70 people involved in the provision of services for young people gathered at Garden Organic Ryton for an intensive day of learning and sharing. Participants came from the Drug and Alcohol Action Team, and from related services including primary care, police, A&E and the fire service.
Will Johnston (Joint Commissioning Manager) identified what the commissioners saw as the main issues for the young peoples services. He advised the group of the context of commissioning and performance management and highlighted that substance misuse was the responsibility of main stream agencies as well as specialists.
Other contributions were made by the YOT, Connexions and the NTA.
After a first class organic lunch, we were entertained and informed by "the Yobs" three young men from the Hybrid Arts project. This project, based in Leamington Spa, uses video and music production to engage with young people who have failed to benefit from standard education. They presented a hard-hitting music video on the use of drugs, and electronic graffiti on the Every Child Matters theme of "Staying Safe".
Some of the lyrics from "Strife" summarise their message;
"I've been through life
I've seen the trouble and the strife that drugs bring
Sadness and total madness
To the unsuspecting human being"
Following the Yobs presentation the participants began mapping the current reality of services for young people in Warwickshire, facilitated by a small team from CSIP. Noisy discussion ensued as many post-it notes were filled in. It became clear that the Models of Care for Alcohol Misusers (MoCAM) does not map onto the current practice in this area, with some lack of clarity about the Tier 2 Tier3 service boundaries. The four large maps of the current pathway of clients will be used to inform the actions of the commissioners.
Most participants singled out the opportunity for networking and the presentation by the Yobs as highlights. Many people left clutching business cards and phone numbers.