Novas Initiatives Community Detox Mid-West Annual Report Annual Report Novas Community Detox. McGarry House. St Alphonsus Street

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Tobias Rice
8 years ago
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1 Annual Report 2013 Novas Community Detox McGarry House St Alphonsus Street

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3 Novas Initiatives Novas Initiatives is a voluntary agency that works with single adults, families and children who are disadvantaged and socially excluded, primarily those who are homeless or at risk of being homeless. Novas clients include many who are not served by mainstream services and are excluded from existing voluntary agencies. We start where others stop. Novas Community Detox Novas Community Detox is part of a national initiative supported by the HSE and the ICGP whose aim is to support people to access safer out-patient detoxification from methadone and benzodiazepines. The process is defined in written protocols developed by an expert group and identifying specific roles for GP, keyworker, and broker. The broker s role is to raise awareness of the initiative and to support engagement of doctors and keyworkers working in the Mid-West. More information and the protocols are available at and Funded by the Mid-Western Regional Drugs Task Force, Novas Initiatives employs one co-ordinator, working 20 hours per week, and two key workers, each working 20 hours per week, and provides locum cover where needed. 3

Novas Community Detox Novas Community Detox is part of a national initiative supported by the HSE and the ICGP whose aim is to support people to access safer out-patient detoxification from methadone

4 In 2013 the Community Detox Service received 90 referrals. Referrals by Area: Mid-West Community Detox Referrals by Area Clare Lk County Lk City N. Tipperary MW Community Detox Referrals by Area 2013 Referral Sources: Mid-West Community Detox Source of Referrals 2013; n= MW Community Detox Source of Referrals 2013; n=90 *Note: Other comprises Social Work, Homeless Services, Counsellor, Public Health Nurse and Community Development Worker 4

Tipperary MW Community Detox Referrals by Area 2013 Referral Sources: 25 20 15 Mid-West Community Detox Source of Referrals

5 Referrals by substance: Mid-West Community Detox Referrals by Substance 2013 Benzos Methadone Poly- Other Opiate Alcohol Other Referrals by gender: 60 Mid-West Community Detox Referrals by Gender MW Community Detox Referrals by Gender Male Female 5

Referrals by gender: 60 Mid-West Community Detox Referrals by Gender

6 Activity during 2013 Assessments A total of 55 initial assessments were completed during Key-working A total of 396 client key-working sessions were held by Community Detox staff during the year. Staff facilitated a total of 175 accompanied GP visits. Clients cancelled or did not attend 82 meetings and/or key working sessions during the year. Presentations The Community Detox service was promoted through presentations to 44 other agencies and professionals meetings in

Staff facilitated a total of 175 accompanied GP visits.

7 Training & Development Supporting staff through the provision of targeted training is central to Novas Initiatives ethos, and essential to the delivery of a high quality Community Detox service in the Mid-West. During 2013, staff participated in training and seminars on the following areas: Broker Training Addiction and the Brain Health and Safety Fire Safety and Manual Handling Anxiety & Stress Management techniques Community Reinforcement Approach Brief Interventions in primary Care Settings Harm Reduction Dual Diagnosis Crisis Prevention Intervention 7

During 2013, staff participated in training and seminars on the following areas: Broker Training Addiction and the Brain Health and Safety

8 2013 Strategic Objectives and Progress Develop the provision of a package of therapies for those undergoing Benzodiazepine detox as identified in the T&R subgroup work plan following the Next Steps (2012) conference. The first draft of a timetable of groups and activities in Limerick city has been circulated and will be updated and extended to other regions. To develop closer ties with GPs through the Continuing Medical Education model. This objective is achieved; a group of around 40 GP s from the Mid-West attended a presentation on the Community Detox Service on the 18 th September at a meeting convened by the local representative of the Irish College of GP s under the Continuing Medical Education model. To seek more referrals from Clare and County Limerick. This objective is ongoing. Meetings with key stakeholders in Clare are scheduled for early To develop key working arrangements with other services. A joint-working agreement has been agreed with Limerick Drug and Alcohol Service (HSE) comprising two key aims and the pilot has commenced. Further agreements have been finalised, with Saoirse Treatment Centre and the Red Ribbon Project. To provide support to carers and family members of our clients as measured by their engagement with family and respite services. Seven clients/family groups were supported during the year by Novas Respite House Service following referrals from the Community Detox Service. 8

To develop closer ties with GPs through the Continuing Medical Education model.

9 Other developments into 2014 The Community Detox service is now delivered from the LDAS Corporation House building in Mungret Street one afternoon per week. Agreement has been reached with both Saoirse Treatment Centre, and the Red Ribbon Project for the provision of space for key working meetings by appointment on a weekly basis commencing in January The service also benefits from access to working space through CSMT, Clare Drug and Alcohol Service, and Novas IFS. A weekly Community Detox group co-facilitated with the Dual Diagnosis worker in McGarry House has commenced. A further weekly group to provide McGarry House residents with access to drugs education resources is in development. Novas Initiatives Community Detox gratefully acknowledges the support it has received in 2013 of its funder, the Mid Western Regional Drugs Task Force, and all its partners and associate agencies, in particular the HSE, Saoirse Treatment Centre, The Red Ribbon Project, The Sun & Moon Yoga Centre, and Bushey Park pre-treatment Program. For more information visit: 9

2014. The service also benefits from access to working space through CSMT, Clare Drug and Alcohol Service, and Novas IFS.

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