Agenda item

Briefing Note of the Director of Health and Wellbeing

The Committee considered a Briefing Note, together with a presentation at the meeting, which informed the Committee about the progress being made on the local response to the National Drugs Strategy “From Harm to Hope” including the:

• Coventry needs assessment 
• Governance structures
• Current service commissioning arrangements
• Plans for development of a multi-agency Drugs and Alcohol Strategy for Coventry

The representative from West Midlands Police explained to the Committee that drugs and alcohol were the main drivers for violence in the city and that there was a need to make Coventry a hostile environment for people to bring drugs in. There were a number of challenges but there were also opportunities, such as the service violence plan and the One Coventry Plan.

The representative from Change Grow Live outlined adult drug and alcohol treatment services.  There were three key areas of focus – getting 20% more people in treatment, continuity of care and reducing drug related deaths.  There had been additional funding however recruitment had been a challenge as there was a shortage of professional staff and short-term funding didn’t make the jobs attractive in the long term.  However, there was an ambition to deliver across the partnership as the aspirations could not be delivered in isolation. 

The Committee asked questions, sought assurances and made comments on a number of issues, including:-

• Drugs and alcohol being a main driver of pressures on public services
• Additional resources within the police service would enable more levels of command.
• The importance of a partnership approach, including parenting support, schools and early intervention, as well as addressing the gang issues.
• Alcohol liaison services at hospital supported people and CGL have hospital in-reach services to develop those links.
• Steps are being taken to address cannabis farms, protecting the vulnerable and exploited and breaking the gangs controlling the system. Work with community safety team to close properties and the use of 2014 community safety act which could deter landlords and encourage due diligence when letting properties.
• The importance of getting an early flow of intelligence from members of the public.
• That drugs and alcohol on the university campuses was not a significant issue and the partnership with between the police and the universities was solid.
• Nitrous oxide, the impact of it and the need for the legislation to be updated. Concerns that people were driving under the influence and dangerous behaviour as a consequence.
• The links with modern day slavery. A new coordinator post in Legal Services to coordinate the intelligence.
• Steps being taken to address issues around specialist recruitment for drug and alcohol services
• The difference between data and intelligence. Intelligence allowed immediate action, longer term analysis of data helped scope strategic thinking on how to deliver interventions and crime enforcement bit.
• Education would be a key priority in terms of what is available for schools to work with and working to engage in agenda
• Groups who don’t want to engage with services and front line staff to have those conversations and start that process of engagement. Self-referrals are the highest percentage for people accessing treatment.
• The involvement of the third sector as important partners.
• The role of the Night Time Economy, working with Regulatory Services and the police to make sure that the city centre feels a safe place to visit at night.
• The importance of having culturally sensitive services to address the stigma of drug and alcohol abuse in certain communities.
• Partnership manager encouraging more exposure to treatment services and work with rough sleeper team – CGL looked at different ways to grow the workforce – lot about growing our own.

The Committee expressed their thanks to the partners who attended the meeting.

RESOLVED:

1)  That the requirements set out in the National Drug Strategy be noted

2)  That the findings of the local needs assessment be noted

3)  That the regional and local governance structures be noted

4)  That the comments outlined above made by the Committee be considered by officers and that a further item on the Drugs and Alcohol Strategy be added to the Work Programme for next municipal year.