Addiction cartoon - Dr Robert Lefever

NUCF Minutes 10/12/2015

Minutes of NUCF

Date: 10/12/2015

Location: Plummer Court

Chair:

Apologises: None

Update on Client Advisory Groups and Events

Trading Places – Trading Places was closed on 6/12/15 due to the need for an additional member of staff to be present. It will be open on 13^th and moving forward a rota of staff members like the one we have for forum members will be set up.

Monday and Wednesday Plummer Court – No issues except more volunteers would be very useful. Times for the two groups were recommunicated – Monday 11.00-1.00 and Wednesday 1.00-3.00. There was some questions from clients around the referral process under the Lifeline service now in Newcastle. Kellie explained that clients don’t have to go to Bridge view for scripts if they are existing clients as there are Lifeline staff at Plummer Court. Bridge view is the initial assessment centre for all new clients in Newcastle.

Guest speaker: Sarah Blakey – Active Inclusion

Sarah explained what active inclusion is and how she engages with the forum on a regular basis.

Sarah talked about the spectrum of needs which is a way of signposting people to the correct areas and giving different levels of advise to people around housing, benefits etc. The spectrum is made up of different tiers and Sarah suggested that the forum may like some tier 1 basic awareness training. Forum agreed this would be useful and Sarah was happy to design and deliver a training presentation in the New Year.

There were some questions around bedroom tax and an example that in Walker some YHN Newcastle residents were exempt. Forum members to get details of specific examples and Sarah will investigate and feedback.

Also discussed homelessness in Newcastle based on an article in the Chronicle claiming 96% of people begging were homeless. Sarah clarified that that was misleading and the actual figures are that 96% of people begging who appeared in court had been homeless.

A member raised a specific question about Elliot House and the fact that he felt he was unsuitable to be there because he was trying to stay abstinent. It was suggested that he speak to his support worker.

DDN Conference

We discussed the conference and what it was all about. Members that wanted to go gave names, places will be limited depending on funding. Then did an exercise to give some responses to questions posted on the DDN website looking for ideas for content for the 2016 event:

Theme is a snap shot of how things are working or not working in our area.

Working/good

Reduction in treatment waiting times

NUCF

Referrals from treatment to rehab

Naloxone roll out and training

Service User involvement in decision making e.g. recent tender bid

Good recovery community

Not working/bad

Communication between services

Waiting times are still too high causing client congestion

Incorrect script levels leading to people putting themselves at risk by using on top

Suggestions for DDN 2016 topics

NPS

Decriminalisation of drugs

Sharing of best practice

Safe places to legally use drugs

Peer mentoring, promote the benefits

Look at the reasons for drug use, get to the root of the problem

Suggestions for speakers

Jeremy Hunt

Russell Brand

PHE

Service user, carer and peer mentor shares

Christmas Parties

Joint NUCF Christmas party is now on 17/12/2015 at St John’s Church, Grainger Street 11.00-3.00

Names of members wanting to attend were taken as places again are limited.

Rota for Trading Places and possible training

Members attending Trading Places this week were agreed and 2 members agreed to be reserves that could be called if we needed more people on Sunday. Also there may be possibility for volunteer training via Changing Lives. Forum members would need to register as Changing Lives volunteers. This to be looked at in more detail in the New Year.

Next forum: 07/01/2016

Guest speaker: To be confirmed

Location: To be confirmed

Nuggets Bird - Addiction Animation

NUCF Christmas Party 2015