Decision

 At the Public Health and Communities DMT held 11th November 2023, it was agreed to support a collaborative funding proposal for a fixed term contract Alcohol and Drugs Worker in the North-East area Council for a period of 2 years from 1st April 2024 to 31st March 2026. Total funding for this will be £70,893.42 to be jointly funded by Public Health, Health Improvement and Stronger Communities, North-East Area Council

Reasons for the decision

 The North East Area (covering Cudworth, Monk Bretton, North East and Royston wards) has a high prevalence of clients who attended structured treatment for drug and alcohol use between 1st April 2022 and 31st March 2023. The North East has the second highest postcode range with a concentrated number of people from this area accessing specialist support, followed closely by those living in Monk Bretton and Royston.

Data provided by Barnsley Recovery Steps (BRS) shows that 328 people living in the North East Area accessed structured treatment during 2022/23. It is important to note that these figures account only for the number of clients known to be receiving support for alcohol and drug use from Barnsley Recovery Steps, and that there are a significantly higher number of people who may require interventions and support who are not known to the service.

Seventy three percent of BRS clients presented with a mental health need and 32.3% were registered as unemployed, highlighting the impact on the wider determinants of health, with sustained alcohol and drug use affecting clients’ ability to obtain work and/or remain in employment.

Following on from the success of a similar ‘hub and spoke’ model implemented in 2021 to recruit area-based advisors to aid smoking cessation, the North East Area team have committed to providing a dedicated Alcohol and Drugs Advisor, for a fixed term contract for a period of two years. The advisor will build relationships with members of the community, June 2021 Page 2 of 3

businesses and organisations, raise understanding of alcohol and drug use, and the issues related to these substances.