The Effective Drugs and Alcohol Worker


Combining background information, theoretical discussion and the development of practical skills, this five-day course provides a full introduction to many of the elements of effective drugs and alcohol work. From learning ‘the basics’ (for example in sessions discussing the impacts of commonly used drugs or some of the factors that can lead to people developing drug and alcohol problems), to getting hands-on experience of some of the fundamental activities undertaken by drug and alcohol-workers (such as handling risk, assessment, harm reduction, care planning and reviews), participants will leave the training room with a good grasp of many of the underpinning knowledge and skills required in drugs and alcohol work.
The course is mapped against 4 DANOS units (the Drugs and Alcohol National Occupational Standards) and the accompanying book is based on Skills for Health’ document for induction ‘Knowledge and skills for tackling substance misuse’.

Course Aim

to provide a comprehensive introduction to working with clients who have drugs and alcohol problems

Objectives

By the end of the course participants will be able to:
Introductory issues
  • List commonly used drugs and their effects
  • Describe the main components of the Misuse of Drugs act
  • Identify factors that increase the risks of developing substance misuse problems.
  • Use the cycle of change to structure interventions with clients
Working with clients and harm reduction
  • Enable individuals to adopt safe practices associated with substance use
  • Support individuals when they have used substances
  • Support individuals in reducing substance use
Working with risk
  • Assess the immediate risk of danger to the individual
  • Act upon the immediate risk of danger to the individual
  • Support the individual after the immediate risk of danger has passed
Factors to consider in assessment
  • Prepare for a comprehensive substance misuse assessment
  • Assess possible risks and the individual’s understanding of services available
  • Assess the individual’s substance misuse and related problems
Care planning and review
  • Obtain information about individuals and their needs of the service
  • Contribute to planning how individuals’ needs can best be met
  • Agree services to be provided to meet individuals’ needs
  • Contribute to reviewing the effectiveness of care programmes

Who will benefit from attending?

This course is essential for new workers to the field and anyone needing a refresher

Length 5 days – 9:30 – 4:30 (or equivalent)

DANOS Units or other National Occupational Standards:

AB2   Support individuals who are substance users
AB5   Assess and act upon immediate risk of danger to substance users
AF3   Carry out comprehensive substance misuse assessments
AG2   Contribute to care planning and review

This course is designed and delivered in association with DrugScope

DrugScope is the UK's leading independent centre of expertise on drugs and the national membership organisation for the drug field. Our aim is to inform policy development and reduce drug-related harms - to individuals, families and communities. We provide quality drug information, promote effective responses to drug taking, undertake research, advise on policy-making, encourage informed debate - particularly in the media - and speak for our member organisations working on the ground.


Please note
All our courses are commissioned for groups and organisations. If you have more than three people who would benefit from working together on this topic, use the link at the the bottom of the page to contact me, or click here to find out more about getting us to deliver a programme.

We regret that we do not have an open access programme