Sefton Community Substance Use Service User Survey

During 2021/22 we asked service users and other stakeholders about the substance use treatment service. Our aim is to deliver a modern, integrated, recovery orientated, substance use treatment service for individuals in Sefton who need support to recover from substance use and get their lives back on track.

We wanted to engage with key stakeholders i.e. service staff, pharmacists, partner organisations within the local pathway and service users to get your feedback.

The main themes of all the engagement were around awareness of service, feedback of referral process, quality of service, any gaps in service, any barriers, and stigma.

On the whole respondents were positive about the local service provision and particularly the key workers. Some suggestions you said were:

• There needs to be more awareness of support on offer from the service and better promotion.
• There were some barriers and stigma to accessing the service for some people that need support e.g. alcohol users,
• Community co- location in other venues may help create wider access.
• Service is very focused on medical/clinical support needs to be wider. Also, there is a need to improve access to mental health support.
• Lack of group sessions and peer led support in service and wider holistic support model was identified as being needed this links to the demand for a more support for Mental Health after care/ recovery support.
• Improved service site hubs particularly in Bootle,
• The need for more outreach work in the community for those who find it difficult to engage,
• Better communication between service and pharmacies delivering shared care. E.g., contact available out of hours and more formal communication around medications.

This is what we have done/are planning to do:

• We have planned a stakeholder engagement event and service user day. There will promotion of the service via social media and in local neighbourhoods andl places e.g. pharmacies, GPs, and community venues.
• The highly valued key worker model will be retained within the new service
• Improvements on service sites
• To offer an alternative to the main service sites, there will be satellites in the community in more generic venues to widen access and address stigma.
• There will be an enhanced outreach service to facilitate engagement with more vulnerable cohorts and those reluctant to engage with the service.
• A strengthening and a much larger peer led support model and more holistic engagement. A volunteer model to engage residents in service delivery.
• An extension of psychology and counselling support in house services.
• Strengthening of links with pharmacies to improve communications including electronic systems and contact out of hours e.g. Saturdays.