Agenda item

Adroddiad ar weithrediad a chynnydd y Gwasanaeth Camddefnyddio Sylweddau Integredig yn RhCT a Merthyr Tudful.

Members were provided with a report on the implementation and progress of the Integrated Substance Misuse Service in Rhondda Cynon Taf and Merthyr Tydfil.

The Director of Public Heath, Protection and Community Services explained that in Cwm Taf Morgannwg the responsibility for the strategic planning and commissioning of services for the treatment and prevention of substance misuse rest with the Cwm Taf Morgannwg Substance Misuse Area Planning Board. It was explained that the majority of substance misuse services within Cwm Taf Morgannwg are funded through two Welsh Government Funding Streams,

·         The Substance Misuse Action Fund (SMAF ) £4M;

·         The Local Health Board ring fenced substance misuse allocation £3.5M.

Members were informed that RCT is the nominated banker and grant recipient for the Substance Misuse Action Fund allocation on behalf of the Area Planning Board.

The Officer highlighted that all services currently commissioned for substance misuse within Cwm Taf fall within a 4 –tier conceptual framework, which refer to the level of intervention provided.:

·         Tier 1: Consists of a range of drug-related interventions that can be provided by generic providers, depending on their competence and partnership arrangements with specialised substance misuse services;

·         Tier 2: Interventions are provided by specialist substance misuse providers and include a range of harm reduction interventions and interventions that engage, retain and support people in treatment. Support for families and concerned others, are also considered to be a tier 2 interventions;

·         Tier 3: Specialist provisions including all clinical functions. substitute prescribing programmes and community detoxification;

·         Tier 4: Services provide substance misuse inpatient detoxification and residential rehabilitation programmes.

The Chair thanked the Officers for a very comprehensive report and opened up the meeting for Members questions and observations.

A Member also commended the service for the work that has been done especially with the area that he resides and thanked Barod Service provider for all their hard work and looks forward to working with them in the future.

 Members requested information regarding a single point of contact number for future reference which would help in Members signposting residents to the correct areas for help and support. Officers provided detailed information to the Committee.

A Member asked a question regarding the figures within the table and asked for clarity on lower number of referrals during 2017. Officers explained that during this point there had been a transfer from a National data base to a single point of contact data base where by there is now a more streamlined and there had been a  of service and referrals are tracked in one place and the clients journey progression is followed.

Members put questions forward in relation to various scenarios, Members wanted clarity on the type of service user the County Borough along with age profile. It was explained that the main substance of misuse referrals is alcohol at 65% and in terms of age range it showed to be 35- 45 year old. Over 50’s services have been brought in to deal with the long term effects of drug misuse. In respect of areas of concern regarding police response the Overview and Scrutiny Committee sitting as the Crime and Disorder Committee would deal with many of these issues.   

Members were reminded that if Members had any specific questions relating to their ward Officers would be able to address these issues out side of the meeting.

After further discussion Members RESOLVED to  

Ø  Acknowledge the content  of the report

Ø  Receive data in respect of service use profile.