Lambeth DAT Training and Workforce Development

Lambeth DAT Programme 2007 - 2008

Welcome to this year’s Lambeth Drug and Alcohol Training programme. This programme is here to enhance your skills and knowledge about working with people affected by drug and alcohol use. For those of you who work in drug and alcohol services or are a service user, this training programme may also be an opportunity to share your expertise with colleagues and partners and improve our treatment options.
See the DAT training calendar.

Why do we have a Drug and Alcohol Training Programme in Lambeth?

As you know, Lambeth has a high number of people affected by drug use. Local partners continue to tackle drug dealing and support those affected by substance misuse. In the past few years, substance misuse services have undergone considerable changes. Treatment has become more accessible, effective and client focused but we recognise that there is still work to be done. To offer you extra support in your work with our substance misuse population and an opportunity to share your skills, the Lambeth Drug and Alcohol Team (DAT) invites you to take advantage of this year’s training courses.

I’m a drug and alcohol professional. What can this training programme offer me?

The National Treatment Agency has set targets around qualifications and competences that they expect drug and alcohol workers to work towards. Considerable effort will be required to keep pace with these standards known as Drug and Alcohol National Occupational Standards– DANOS. DANOS describe the levels of knowledge and skills that a drug and alcohol worker needs to perform to a required standard. Together with your manager, you could use DANOS as a tool to identify training and other methods of learning to enhance your competence or knowledge. This training programme aims to support you in meeting some of these training needs.

The courses on offer are based on your suggestions and feedback to last year’s training programme. It has something to offer to those of you who are relatively newer to the field and to those of you who have been serving longer in the drug and alcohol services. To that effect, we recognise that there is a great deal of expertise amongst our local substance misuse services. That is why we would like to encourage you to continue sharing your expertise with your colleagues from other local services.

I’m a service user in Lambeth. How can I get involved in this programme?

Lambeth DAT have been working with our service users for some time and want to continue building on this relationship. We have been guided in our work by those of you on the Service User Council and this training programme is another opportunity for us to come together. We would like to support you through training and involve you in designing and delivering courses alongside drug and alcohol workers and your peers. This programme offers you free access to Training the Trainer course. In addition and with your input, we are committed to providing training on Service User Involvement and Consultation, and Harm Reduction. Your involvement with us in rolling out this programme is most important.

I sometimes come into contact with people affected by substance misuse. What can this training programme offer me?

If you work for the police, probation services, housing, any local agency or are a member of a local voluntary and community group, this training programme is also for you. Our training aims to increase your ability to recognise substance misuse early and give you the confidence to intervene. We will tell you about our local drug and alcohol agencies, their roles and how to work with them. We believe you have a very important role to play alongside our local treatment agencies in working with substance misusers and their carers in referring and supporting them. Together we can reduce the effect that substance misuse has on our community. Courses that may be of particular interest to you are Basic Drug Awareness and Street Life Training.

So, what courses will you run this year?

The courses we will run this year are:

• Basic Drug Awareness
• Street Life Training
• Crack Awareness Training
• Equalities and Diversity for Drug and Alcohol Workers
• Training the Trainer
• Domestic Violence and Substance Misuse
• Understanding Service User Consultation and Involvement
• Key Housing Aid and Advice
• Dual Diagnosis
• Motivational Interviewing
• Assessments
• Overdose Training
• Safer Injecting
• Effective Care Planning

The Training Calendar 2007 - 2008

Training dates will be released on a quarterly basis. See this quarter's training dates. 

Booking conditions

• Courses are free to anyone working or volunteering in Lambeth. To book, you will need to complete a booking form.
• Please do not attend a training course if you have not received confirmation of your booking. 
• You must get consent from your line manager. 
• It is your responsibility to check starting times of the course(s). Starting times are non- negotiable and all trainers (both internal and external) reserve the right to refuse your attendance if you arrive more than 15 minutes after the start. 
• There will be a charge of £60 if participants do not give at least 7 days notice of non attendance or provide a substitute participant. 
• Places are available on a fee paying basis for those from neighbouring boroughs for a discretionary fee, depending on demand.

Workforce Development

In May 2006, Lambeth PCT carried out a Workforce Development Audit. The audit determined where substance misuse services are in relation to the numerical workforce targets set by the NTA and looked at the wider workforce development agenda.

The NTA workforce targets are as follows. By March 2008:

• 75% of non-professionally trained staff are undertaking or have achieved NVQ3 in Health and Social Care or equivalent 
• 60% of professionally trained staff are undertaking a programme of continuous professional development, including professional development awards 
• 90% of managers are undertaking or have achieved an appropriate management training programme as defined by their employers.

As a follow – up, Lambeth Workforce Development Strategy has been developed for 2006 – 2008. The goals of the strategy include: 

• Achieving the NTA 2008 targets outlined above and hence demonstrating that a competent workforce is in place to deliver quality services. 
• The creation of individual Workforce Development Plans by all treatment agencies. 
• The further develop wider workforce practices relating to recruitment, induction, supervision, retention, appraisal and professional development of staff.

Lambeth Workforce Development Forum has been set up to take the goals of the strategy forward. The group consists of managers and / or workforce leads from each of the treatment agencies in Lambeth. The forum meets up on bi-monthly basis.

If you want to discuss any issues around training and workforce development, contact the Lambeth DAT Training Co-ordinator on 020 7926 2840.

Useful training links

www.lambethscb.org.uk
www.m-alliance.org.uk/training
www.alcohol-drugs.co.uk
www.hit.org.uk
www.raceanddrugsproject.co.uk
www.alchemyproject.co.uk
www.drinkanddrugs.net/training/training.html www.healthfirst.org.uk/training
www.healthfirst.org.uk
www.homelesstraining.slam.nhs.uk
www.alcoholconcern.org.uk/servlets/home

Useful links

www.skillsforhealth.org.uk/danos
www.fdap.org.uk
www.publicinnovation.org.uk
www.exchangesupplies.org
drugs.homeoffice.gov.uk
www.m-alliance.org.uk/index
www.release.org.uk
www.nta.nhs.uk
www.drugscope.org.uk
www.accreditedqualifications.org.uk
www.qca.org.uk
www.ssda.org.uk
www.ma-risk.com
www.stjohnsupplies.co.uk
www.addaction.org.uk