OUT OF CRIME AND INTO TREATMENT

Drug Interventions Programme

The aim of the Drug Interventions Programme is to reduce drug related offending by moving drug-misusing offenders through criminal justice interventions whilst retaining them in drug treatment.

The updated drug strategy highlights the aim to join up initiatives in the criminal justice system more effectively and develop an ‘end to end approach from arrest through to sentence and beyond. Under a new Drug Interventions Programme supported by the Home Office and NTA, we have been asked to adopt a model of working which would seek to develop a community based drug team, targeting drug using offenders, for Darlington. This approach will where possible build on work and arrangements already in place using a combination of existing and new resources, from various funding streams.

The Drug Interventions Programme is designed to engage with the broad range of drug misusing offenders, who are at different stages in their drug misuse and offending careers. It aims to prevent crime through early interventions as well as reduce crime levels by engaging the most problematic and prolific offenders.

Offenders will be selected on the following criteria;

• The Individual is a prolific offender who commits acquisitive crimes namely Burglary, Robbery Car crime and other street crime.
• Offender commits crime to fund his / her drug misuse.
• Offender resides / commits crime in Darlington.
• The Durham Constabulary offending matrix should be used to identify these individuals. This will take cognizance of numbers and category of convictions, detections, arrests, stop searches and intelligence inputs and other local weightings which may be considered pertinent.
• These decisions will be supported with the evidenced decisions of professional staff.

This will take cognizance of numbers and category of convictions, detections, arrests, stop searches and intelligence inputs and other local weightings which may be considered pertinent.

These decisions will be supported with the evidenced decisions of professional staff.

Various treatment processes and phases exist dependent upon the needs of the client.

• Triage assessment and referral to appropriate Tier 3 treatment
• Harm minimisation and Brief interventions
• Low threshold treatment – motivational work, assertive outreach etc
• Low threshold prescribing
• Case Management / care planning / Care Coordination
• Assessments and recommendations / referrals for DTTO’s

• Contribution to the delivery of the DTTO programme
• Engagement with the Prolific and Other Priority Offender Schemes
• Dedicated Aftercare service for those leaving Prison or Community based drug treatment

As well as these specific interventions there are also the liaison functions of the Team which will prevent the Offender from slipping though the net and returning to criminality. The key to the Team will be it’s flexibility and ability to perform whatever requirements are needed to keep the offender in treatment or active with one of the services.

Drug Treatment and Testing Orders

• Triage assessment and referral to appropriate Tier 3 treatment
• Harm minimisation and Brief interventions
• Low threshold treatment – motivational work, assertive outreach etc
• Low threshold prescribing
• Case Management / care planning / Care Coordination
• Assessments and recommendations / referrals
• referrals for DTTO’s
• Contribution to the delivery of the DTTO programme
• Engagement with the Prolific and Other Priority Offender Schemes
• Dedicated Aftercare service for those leaving Prison or Community based drug treatment

As well as these specific interventions there are also the liaison functions of the Team which will prevent the Offender from slipping though the net and returning to criminality. The key to the Team will be it’s flexibility and ability to perform whatever requirements are needed to keep the offender in treatment or active with one of the services.

Implementation of the Drug Interventions Programme 
and its Operational Management

DIP Aims To

• Reduce drug related crime by accessing more problematic drug users. Getting them into treatment, retaining them in treatment, supporting them through and after treatment and also after sentences.

• Throughcare and Aftercare is the system which underpins DIP.

• Priority and Other Prolific Offenders.

Throughcare and Aftercare

Throughcare systems provide:

• continuity of approach from arrest, court through to sentencing and beyond

• seamless delivery

Aftercare provides:

• the package of holistic support to address assessed needs and sustain engagement.

• Rapid response– easy to contact

• Retention in treatment

• Not just the abstinence model, maintenance is also an option

• Must be Proactive, Responsive and Flexible

• Multiple needs analysis, care management / care co-ordination and comprehensive assessment

• Build on what’s already there and develop co-ordination between those services. Brokering access and support from the wraparound services – housing, employment, education etc.

• Single point of contact for all referrals from CJ agencies enabling the development of a "one-stop-shop" for persistent offenders and those leaving prison or rehab.

• Be able to provide or access Tier 2 service interventions such as assessment, Harm min, and case management for target group.

• Identify clients and test referrals using the "matrix" approach which scores clients on the basis of the definition of persistent offending.

• Get members of the TG who are already active within statutory sector provision to engage more effectively with other services.

• Engage more effectively with those members of the TG who are outside the statutory sector

• Ensure smooth flow of information between agencies to reduce rate of re-offending and support the process of monitoring the clients going through DIP system.

• Develop capacity and effectiveness within the services already available

• To lead on process redesign and change management whenever / wherever necessary

• Fast track response to relapse (re-offending and /or non-compliance.

• Enhanced partnership working wherever possible. ? Integration

• Use common assessment tools and integrated minimum data to ensure a seamless delivery of services across the different modalities and CJS

• Close Integration - Facilitating easier communication and information sharing, and smoother service delivery.

• Clarity - Ensuring clear roles and responsibilities to ensure efficient and effective working.

• Permission (parent organisations) - Risk taking encouraging (learning, growth, creativity, relationships, problem solving and empowerment)

• Simple interface - A dedicated Service Co-ordinator will provide a clear focal point for partner agencies and users of the Service.

• Partnership Building – "hearts and minds" initially

• Team Roles / Responsibilities and Team Development

• Line Management and HR issues

• Programme, Performance Management – hold to account for progress, clarity of vision

• Reporting - statistics

• Model / Process of Intervention - (Appendix 1)

• Communications – within the Team and on behalf of the Team

• Policies and Procedures – local protocols, MoC.

• Performance Management

• Important to set locally agreed targets/KPI’s.

And These plans should be incorporated into DAAT’s wider performance framework.

Examples of KPI’s

• Reduced acquisitive crime by D U / TG

• Increased numbers Successfully entering and staying in treatment – (1) after release from prison and (2) after arrest or appearance in court.

• POPO’s