WGCADA ANNUAL REPORTS 2003/2004

Area Project Managers Report Neath and Port Talbot 2003 - 2004

Before having an overview of the activities in Neath & Port Talbot during the last twelve months, I would like to take the opportunity to thank all the staff, volunteers and students who have worked so hard for the agency and its service users. Without their commitment, professionalism and dedication we would not have been able to offer the comprehensive services that we offer in Neath and Port Talbot. I would also like to thank all our partner agencies (CDAT, PSALT, Routes, Action Team for Jobs, Broker Cymru, Ante natal, Community Safety Team etc), commissioners and everybody who has supported our work during the past year.

The last twelve months have seen an increase in the number of clients engaging with the agency, and has seen an expansion of the variety of services on offer to those affected by substance misuse in the county borough.

During the last quarter of the year, the number of active cases being seen in Neath and Port Talbot rose above 500 (547). This is the first time that over 500 services users have been engaging with the agency in NPT.

Heroin and Alcohol continue to be the main drugs of those presenting to the agencies.

An increase of 13.5%

An increase of 10%

It would be impossible to mention everything that has happened during the past year, therefore I will be only be able to highlight some of the main points, and priorities for the next year.

SMART TEAM (Substance misuse and assessment team)
This is a partnership between WGCADA and the Local Health Board, and will act as the main point of entry to substance misuse services within NPT. We have been fortunate to employ an experienced and skilled team, who will offer an assessment appointment within 5 days of referral, before signposting to the appropriate service. It is hoped that the team will speed up access to treatment, and ensure that service users are directed to the service that is going to meet their needs. The team are based in our building in Neath (15 Victoria Gardens)

The Pad
Our services for young people continue to develop. The Pad is a specialist service for young people who are affected by substance misuse, and offers a range of interventions in a young people friendly environment. The service is offered from our Port Talbot agency every Thursday afternoon from 2.00pm until 6.00pm - with the opportunity to see workers at other times and locations. Complementary to the service, we are able to offer young people a place on a ten week Forestry skills school, which is organised by Community Safety Partnership. This gives the young people the opportunity to work with other young people on team building exercises, survival skills etc. It is hoped that we will be able to develop sessions of The Pad at our Neath agency in the near future.

Number 15 Victoria Gardens
We now have three agencies operating within Neath and Port Talbot. Number 15 Victoria Gardens has developed into an agency that is a hive of activity, attracting new clients to the services that we offer. In the last year the agency has been firmly established, and despite the overcrowding and building disruptions of the last few months, the agency now offers a comprehensive range of services. The building work has enabled us to increase our office space within the building (for SMART team), created space for our needle exchange, and converted the upper room into a space where we can offer cookery and life skills courses, and IT suite. These will enhance our services within Neath, and will offer valuable resources for Domino activities.

Increase in opening hours
To meet the needs of those unable to attend our agencies during normal working hours, all three agencies now offer one evening where they remain open for part of the evening. I am very grateful for the cooperation and willingness of the staff to be flexible and committed to ensure that the service meets the needs of our clients.

Primary Treatment Group
In response to the increase in demand for primary treatment, our Neath (30 Victoria Gardens) agency now operates two primary groups per week. Again this initiative was taken by the senior and the team at Neath, and shows their commitment to ensuring that clients do not have to wait long before accessing treatment.

CDAT
As an agency we were very sad to see the departure of Dr Rosanna Oretti, Consultant Psychiatrist with the community drugs and alcohol team (CDAT). She was a valued colleague and a friend of WGCADA. However, our partnership working with the CDAT continues to develop, and we are glad to welcome both Kelvin as Business manager, and Sue as Clinical Nurse manager with the team. I have no doubt that our joint working will continue to develop with the team - an obvious sign of this being the development of a joint post - Community Rehabilitation Coordinator.

Christmas
During the Christmas period some of our agencies resembled Santa's grotto. For the past two years we have been very fortunate to have received presents and food hampers to give to our clients. We are very grateful for this support, which enabled us to deliver over 250 parcels to needy families during the days running up to Christmas.

Hepatitis Conference
Our annual joint conference with the CDAT was this year in Bridgend on the subject of Hepatitis. Again it was a very successful conference, and it is planned to have next year's conference on Alcohol in Port Talbot.

BOMIC Software
The above software has now been purchased for all WGCADA agencies, to replace our current system, which no longer meets our needs. It is hoped that the new system will help us collect more accurate and relevant data, together with putting in place outcome measures to demonstrate how effective our interventions are.

Mini Bus
Thanks to the support of the Community Safety Partnership the agency was able to purchase a mini bus. This will be a valuable resource, and will be of particular benefit to the Forestry School, Domino, Women's Group, Young Peoples service etc.

Training and talks
The demand upon workers to deliver talks/training continues to increase. Without doubt, the appointment of the training manager has improved coordination, but demands upon staff that already are have full caseloads can sometimes prove problematic. During the past year staff have provided talks/training to a variety of organisations: Communities First, Youth Service, Social Services, Neath College,

New Funding achieved

Progress on last years identified priorities

• Funding to employ Valley Outreach Workers for NPT - Funding secured for one outreach worker
  
  
• Funding to employ full time Domino worker- Funding secured for full time worker
  
  
• Improve IT Systems in all agencies - Funding secured to install new systems in all agencies
  
  
• Increase satellite clinics in outlying areas of NPT - It is hoped that this can occur during the next six months with appointment of outreach worker.
  
  
• Review existing agency policies and procedures - Members of the management team have partly completed this task.

Priorities for next 12 months

• Secure appropriate and bigger premises for our Port Talbot agency
  
  
• Elderly and disability post - the demand for the services of our Elderly and disability worker has grown to such an extent that our part time worker cannot meet the need. During the next 12 months efforts will be made to secure further funding
  
  
• Family Worker - This is another area in which we have seen increase demand. There is a need for a worker to undertake this role
  
  
• Outreach Worker - There is a need for an additional outreach worker to enable us to properly develop our services in the valley communities.

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