E-bulletin for May 2008
Headlines
- Welcome
- From Policy to Project
- New Additions to the Hub
- Updates from Alcohol Concern and Department of Health
Articles
Welcome
Welcome to the 1st HubCAPP e-bulletin. These bulletins aim to keep you up-to-date with the latest new additions to the Hub and outline a case study example following the lifecycle of a project from policy into local practice. The Hub of Commissioned Alcohol Projects and Policies is an online resource of local alcohol initiatives throughout England and has a particular focus on capturing the policies, decisions and strategic history behind projects. The 'Policy to Project' section will outline an example to show how local policy is working to achieve national objectives.
If you haven't been to the website yet go to www.hubcapp.org.uk and search through the projects that are already listed.
From Policy to Project
Brent Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy and linked projects
In 2006 the Brent Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy was launched to improve coordination and strategic planning of activity in the borough. The action plan outlines the objectives and describes activities to be undertaken between 2006 - 2008. The action plan was broken down into four sections around alcohol-related ill health, accidents and injuries; reduction in anti social and criminal behavior; addressing the needs to young people and their families and the development for improved information systems across the borough.
The projects directly linked to this strategy and developed from the strategy include
- Screening and Brief Intervention Trial by GPs: An Alcohol Nurse is employed to work in four GP surgeries to undertake screening and brief interventions. The Alcohol Nurse also trains all nurses and doctors in the services to offer screening and brief interventions. Link
- Outreach Engagement Team and Controlled Drinking Zone: A Controlled Drinking Zone was established in Brent in November 2007. A core component is an Outreach Engagement Team who work with street drinkers and tackle anti-social behaviour issues around alcohol. Link
- Purchasing of alcohol by young people: Trading Standards in Brent investigate where young people purchase alcohol from in the Borough. This information is collected through test purchasing of alcohol by young people in licensed premises throughout the Borough. Link
- Tier 3 Interventions for Young People: Young people in Brent who are identified as having problems with alcohol misuse receive an appropriate intervention or care package with support for both parents and carers. Link
- Multiagency data collection and analysis: This project aims to collate multiagency data from all partners working in the alcohol field across Brent. Data is collected from all partners including police, health, A&E, local government. The data is analysed and disseminated back to the agencies involved to inform the development of services and strategies in the area. Link
New Additions to the Hub
Greenwich Queen Elizabeth Alcohol Project
Greenwich's Substance Misuse Link Nurse Team delivers alcohol screening and brief interventions in the Queen Elizabeth Hospital's A&E department.
The team also acts in an important support liaison role, linking patients into appropriate care and after care treatments if necessary.
Bristol Hospital Based Alcohol Nurse Specialist
United Bristol Healthcare Trust (UBHT) appointed a full-time Alcohol Nurse Specialist (ANS) in October 2006. The full-time role was developed after a part-time pilot in the Hepatology Unit had proved cost-effective through a reduction in readmission rates and had led to positive health outcomes.
Updates from Alcohol Concern and Department of Health
Kitemarking of Local Alcohol Strategies
Alcohol Concern has recently launched a Local Alcohol Strategy Kitemarking initiative as part of a national effort to reduce alcohol related harms through local partnership work.
Alcohol Concern has developed the Kitemarking process in order to achieve the highest standards in developing local alcohol strategies. The Kitemark initiative is informed by Alcohol Concern's work on local alcohol strategies in the South West and East Midlands Government Regions.
Local Authorities/PCTs whose strategies are Kitemarked will receive the Kitemark logo for use on their strategy document and Alcohol Concern will promote their strategy as Kitemarked on HubCAPP.
For more information please contact Catherine Johnson consultancy@alcoholconcern.org.uk