Project
Swanswell's Netmums Project
Background to project:
The service was launched as a three month pilot project on March 31st 2009 and subsequently extended as a contracted service, so Swanswell's Netmums partnership project provides an excellent example of added value provided to commissioned services by a voluntary sector service provider. Whilst Swanswell's work with Netmums draws on the extensive knowledge of up to date alcohol and drug treatment and advice, which Swanswell achieves through the delivery of services commissioned by the statutory sector, Swanswell's work with Netmums is self-funded and therefore adds value to commissioned services at no extra cost to Swanswell's commissioners. Netmums had received funding from the £44 milllion Parent Know How Programme launched by the Department for Children Schools and Families launched in 2008, and approached Swanswell to provide drug and alcohol expertise for the organisation's Coffee House discussion forum, which can be visited by up to one thousand Netmums members at any one time.
Project planning:
Netmums is one of the fastest growing parenting websites in the UK with half a million unique, registered users. Set up and run by mothers, it is a family of more than 150 local websites with new sites now being built around the world. However the discussion forums operate on a national level and are one of the most popular features of the social networking, advice and support website.
The Coffee House contains many chat forums on subjects as varied as places to go with the kids, what’s happening in EastEnders and more serious topics such as the Alcohol, Drugs and Addiction forum offering advice and support for members affected by these issues.
Since it was launched in April 2009, online posts by Swanswell advisers have been viewed more than 70,000 times, while the two Senior Practitioners who operate the service have become engaged in helping a virtual caseload of 100 Netmum members.
While there are a significant number of inquiries about a partner's cocaine or cannabis use, the most common issue drawn to the attention of the Swanswell staff is concern about drinking either by the Netmum member or their partner.
Also evident from the project has been an unexpected interest in drug advice with posts on heroin addiction attracting the greatest number of hits, way out of proportion to recirded levels of drug misuse in the general population. Although this is thought to reflect a hidden fascination with the subject rather than an indication of serious drug abuse amongst parents. Swanswell's experience shows that this is an excellent channel through which to deliver information and advice. It also indicates that more research is needed in this area to discover the prevalence of drug taking amongst parents.
Each forum is moderated by Parent Supporters who in turn can call on a team of experts to provide further professional help and support as Partner Parent Supporters.
Threads on a forum can last for weeks and are viewable by any registered or unregistered visitor to Netmums, although only registered members can post a comment or contribution. It is also possible to post anonymously on the forums for those wishing full confidentiality.
As part of the Netmums project, Swanswell also ran an innovative online clinic during Alcohol Awareness Week in October 2009 in which they responded directly to questions by Netmums members.
With 70% of households in the UK having access to the Internet and two thirds of those online regularly visiting social networking sites, the opportunity to extend alcohol and drug support into this area is a huge potential for continued growth.
As is evident in the “anonymous” case study below, the Alcohol, Drugs and Addiction forum - which like all the Netmum boards is open 24/7 – often reaches people needing help who are reluctant to go to their GP or seek assistance in a more overt way. Some of the people offered support included Morag, an evening drinker who posted on the Alcohol, drugs and addiction forum. This was initially posted on 10th May 2009 and was viewed 216 times.
Morag is a working mum with a 3 year-old and 7 year-old, Morag regularly had wine in the evenings to reduce feelings of stress. Recently one glass had grown into two large ones, then a whole bottle and perhaps spirits too.
A Swanswell worker - alerted to the message by a Netmums Parent Supporter -suggested Morag perform a “pros and cons” exercise with regard to her drinking. She was also signposted to an online alcohol screening tool so she could assess her intake.
Concerned about scoring a high 20 which indicated possible dependence, the Swanswell worker gave her advice about reducing and ceasing alcohol use and also pointed out she may be driving her children to nursery and school under the influence of alcohol. Morag was also signposted to another Netmums page with useful tips for reducing alcohol intake.
An Anonymous member who posted
Cost description:
From the Parent Know-How Programme run by the Department of Children, Families and Schools
Staffing:
Two part-time Swanswell Senior Practitioners
Links to national strategy/policy:
Department of Health
Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy for England [AHRSE] (2004)
Alcohol Misuse Interventions: Guidance on developing a local programme of improvement (2005)
Alcohol Needs Assessment Research Project [ANARP] (2004)
National Drugs Strategy (2008)
Safe Sensible Social (2007)
Department for Children, Schools and Families
Every Child Matters (2003)