Knowsley Substance Misuse

Click on the links below to see the various information on substance misuse teams within Knowsley

1. Knowsley Drug Teams
2. YWCA Kirkby Womans Health Project Counselling Service
3. Knowsley Community Alcohol Services

Knowsley Drug Teams

Service Description

Community Drug Teams provide confidential help advice and treatment for people who are addicted to illicit drugs.

The aim of the treatment is to help individuals to gradually overcome their addiction and to lead a drug-free life.

Community Drug Teams also aim to help the user improve their physical and mental health and provide education to reduce the risks to health associated with substance misuse e.g. HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C. A specialist health visitor and two nurses work within CDTs to provide general medical services. In addition there is dedicated social work input provided to both CDTs.

Both CDTs in Knowsley now offer treatment options to people who are dependent on non-opiate drugs (heroin) and non opiate drugs such as cocaine, crack cocaine and cannabis.

Knowsley CDTs offer various treatment options tailored to suit individual needs which are identified during a clients assessment.

The service has links to other structured day care services such MDC. Alternatives and the Independence Initiative which in conjunction with Progress2Work and other education and training providers offers prevocational training and vocational training opportunities alongside a wide range of social inclusion and personal development activities.

Access to the service

Community Drug Teams welcome referrals from any source and an appointment will be offered to an individual within 5 working days of receipt of referral.

Within the Borough of Knowsley there are two Community Drug Teams. For Cronton, Halewood, Huyton, Prescot and Whiston areas of the Borough:

South Knowsley Community Drug Team, Nutgrove Villa, Westmorland Street , Huyton, Merseyside , L36 6GA

Contact: Sian Prior (Acting Project Manager)

Tel: 0151 489 3005

Fax: 0151 489 3452

Email: southknowsley@drugscouncil.com

Website: www.drugscouncil.com

Opening hours: Monday 9.00am - 6.00pm , Tuesday - Friday: 9.00am – 5.00pm

Kirkby Community Drug Team, The Clark Centre, 149 Cherryfield Drive , Kirkby, Knowsley , L32 8SE

Contact: Marie Worthington (Team Manager)

Telephone: 0151 546 7111

Fax: 0151 546 7796

Website: www.warrington-health.co.uk

Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 9.00am - 5.00pm with late clinic on alternate Tuesdays until 7.00pm . Closed every Wednesday PM for staff training/supervision/team meetings.

YWCA Kirkby Womens Health Project Counselling Service - Non-Opiate Drugs

YWCA Kirkby Women’s Health Project, Kirkby Health Suite, Cherryfield Drive , Kirkby, L32 8UR

Tel: 0151 545 0159

Fax: 0151 545 0082

Website: www.ywca-gb.org.uk

Service Description

This is a new counselling service for young women aged 11-25 who reside in the Kirkby area, who have issues around substance misuse (drugs, nonopiate), self-harm and sexual health. The service was piloted in September 2003 and it is expected to run until at least October 2004. Clients will also be offered Auricular acupuncture to complement the counselling provision.

Young women will also be given the opportunity to access counselling with indirect issues around drug misuse i.e. in terms of partners and family members who are using illicit substances and the effects/impact that this will have on the young woman and her well-being.

Working with young women and their individual needs will provide a preventative service and enable them to develop the knowledge and skills to take more control of their own lives.

Access to the service

The Project welcomes referrals from any source.

Knowsley Community Alcohol Services

County House , 52A Derby Road , Huyton, Knowsley L36 9UL

Tel: 0151 481 0776

Fax: 0151 449 0470

Email: huytonas@c-ic.co.uk

Service Description

Knowsley Community Alcohol Services offers a free, non judgemental and confidential service to individuals experiencing problems relating to their own or someone else’s misuse of alcohol.

The service recognises that confidentiality is essential for the counselling relationship to be effective, it is acknowledged that under certain circumstances, for example where the counsellor feels there is a serious risk of harm to the client or a third party, then confidentiality would heave to be broken where it it would be unreasonable not to act on information given.

Counsellors within the service are professionally trained and receive regular ongoing personal and group counselling supervision from a qualified counselling supervisor. All counsellors are expected to work according to the BAC Code of Ethical Standards and Practice. The main counselling approach used is a mixture of Cognitive Behavioural and Person-Centred approaches.

Client Group

The service is open to anyone who is concerned about their own or someone else’s use/misuse of alcohol.

Exclusion Criteria

• People with severe mental health problems.
• People with learning disabilities however in all circumstance individuals would be signposted to relevant agencies.
• People who have been abusive /violent to our staff.
• Very chaotic drinkers or those suffering form severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms which require medical in-patient detoxification.
• People with a long history of failing to keep appointments with our agency.

The Service offers:

• Assessment
• Advice &Information
• Brief Intervention
• Motivational interviewing
• Structured counselling i.e. one to one or couples
• Relapse prevention
• Referral to other agencies
• Telephone support
• Home Visits
• Hospital liaison
• Employer referral scheme
• Relaxation sessions

Access to the service

The service is based on an open referral system.

MDC Alternatives

Unit 11, Brickfields, Huyton Business Park , Huyton, Knowsley , L36 9HY

Tel: 0151 449 1929

Fax: 0151 482 1177

Email: alternatives@drugscouncil.com

Website: www.drugscouncil.com

Service Description

MDC Alternatives is a training and education centre, exclusively for people with drugs and alcohol problems. It is a project of Merseyside Drugs Council and it is based in a 27,000 sq ft former factory unit in Huyton Business Park .

The project works with people across Merseyside and offers a positive alternative lifestyle, by providing the environment, guidance, training and personal support that trainees need, to enable them to make them make positive lifestyle choices.

MDC Alternatives offers structured vocational training which is accredited in 6 occupational disciplines. These are, Hair and Beauty, Catering, IT, Woodwork and Metalwork and Business Administration. In addition runs a fully accredited Basic Skills training programme.

Exclusion Criteria

MDC Alternatives does not work with chaotic misusers people who attend MDC Alternatives may be drug or alcohol free or maintained on prescribed drugs (e.g. Methadone) as long as people demonstrate a commitment to change and to move on in their lives.

Access to the service

Referrals are welcomed from Community Drug Teams, Arrest Referral, Bail Support, Job Centre Plus, Probation and other agencies. Each person referred will be offered an assessment, usually within 1 week of the referral date.

The Independence Initiative

The Independence Initiative, Balliol Road , Bootle , Merseyside , L20 7EJ

Tel: 0151 284 1100

Fax: 0151 286 0015

Email: Enquiries@independenceinitiative.co.uk

Website: www.independenceinitiative.co.uk

Service Description

The Independence Initiative was set up to assist people who have experienced problems with drugs, but who are now committed to and have actually started to make changes to their lifestyle. Our aim is to meet the needs of the individual, to link people into mainstream education and training,at the earliest opportunity.

The Independence Initiative works with individuals, local agencies and the wider community to facilitate the long-term rehabilitation of people with a history of drug misuse and provides support for their families. It provides a personal programme, addressing individual needs, overcoming barriers to progression and assisting reintegration into the community. The services that are delivered in house include Guidance and Counselling, Action Planning, Core/Basic Skills, Pre-Vocational Training and ongoing support. There is also a provision for recreational and leisure activities. Research undertaken by Liverpool University demonstrated that the support of family and friends is invaluable in enabling drug users to move away from a drug centred lifestyle. Therefore the service also encourages friends and family to become involved with the project by offering support and guidance along with an opportunity for personal development.

Access to the service

Service Provider does not accept self – referrals. All clients are referred by other agencies in consultation with staff from the Service Provider. Individuals must be drug free or have a certain level of stability before they can be referred to the service.

Access to the CMHT is by either referral by a GP, A & E, self or relative/carer referral, non-health referral i.e. Social Services, Independent Voluntary Sector.

52A Derby Road, Huyton, L36 9UL

TEL: 0151 481 0776

We offer a free, non-judgemental and confidential service to individuals experiencing problems as a result of their own or someone else's misuse of alcohol. We believe that alcohol misuse is not an illness, but is a form of behaviour which has been learned and developed over a period of time. We also believe that people can be helped to find skills to modify or completely change their drinking behaviour, largely due to their own inner resources.

The service is open to anyone who is concerned about their own or someone else's drinking All clients accessing the service receive an assessment of their needs and are offered an opportunity to tell their story and discuss the options which may be available to them, including receiving emotional support and /or entering into a series of structured counselling sessions to explore issues they have identified the need to work on. This can sometimes involve the use of creative arts, relaxation and guided fantasy as well as counselling. All our counsellors are trained and qualified to diploma level.

Our counsellors aim to be a resource to those who wish to take responsibility for changing their behaviour and who wish to take time to consider the range of issues and feelings which contribute towards their problems.

We do not offer medical intervention or medical advice.

Waiting time for assessment currently stands at 1 or 2 weeks at our base in Huyton or at any of our outreach clinics in Knowsley. We can also offer home visits if and when appropriate.

We also have young peoples' workers who offer a service for young people up to the age of 18 years.

Sessions are available in Kirkby/Whiston/Halewood/Huyton

All appointments and enquiries should be made by contacting us at 52A Derby Road (above Bon Marche, next to the Dentist) Tel:0151 481 0776 or drop in and ask about the service/make an appointment.

We are open Mondays to Fridays 9.00am - 5.oopm. Closed for lunch 12.00-1.00pm.