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Effective Interventions Unit Moving On: Update Employability And Employment For Recovering Drug Users

Introduction

The importance of employability provision as a key part of the overall treatment, care and support for drug users is now more widely recognised and is supported by evidence (Integrated Care for Drug Users, EIU 2002). There is increasing time, effort and resources dedicated to helping drug users to improve their employability and ultimately enter some form of employment. At a UK Government level, the creation of Jobcentre Plus and the introduction of Progress2Work and Progress2WorkLinkup offer more flexible provision. In Scotland, Phase 2 of the New Futures Fund (NFF) is allowing further development of effective approaches to helping drug users and other 'hard to reach' groups. At local level, increasing numbers of Drug and Alcohol Action Teams (DAATs) now have employability sub-groups and are working with other agencies including Jobcentre Plus and Further Education colleges.

Given this level of interest and activity, the Effective Interventions Unit has now updated its research review 'Moving On: Education, Training and Employment for Recovering Drug Users'. A key part of this Update is an exploration of the concept of employability and the different components that contribute to employability. We have particularly highlighted the importance of addressing the needs of employers and the demands of the local labour market. Where possible, we have also included findings from recent evaluations and have brought up to date the information about programmes and services available to drug users.

While, in line with our remit, the focus of the update is on drug users, much of the information and the key principles and elements of practice that we have identified will be relevant to services working with problem alcohol users.

Research and Consultation

This update does not replace the first Moving On. Those who are interested in the evidence from the EIU literature review and the qualitative consultations carried out by Local and Regional Development Planning in 2001 should read the first document. Key findings from the first Moving On are at Appendix 1 and the Feedback from the 7 EIU Regional Seminars is at Appendix 2.

To help us with the writing of this document we brought together a short-life working group of key individuals (see list of group members in Appendix 3). The group met on two occasions to discuss a range of issues including the concept of employability, working with employers and encouraging better integration between the range of service providers. Group members also provided us with up to date information.

We organised a half-day seminar, in collaboration with the Scottish Further Education Unit (SFEU), bringing together representatives from a range of Further Education colleges (see list of participants in Appendix 4). The seminar explored the role of FE colleges in helping drug users back into education, training and employment, and ways of expanding and developing that role. Participants also provided us with a range of examples of current work.

We had discussions with a number of key people in a range of agencies to draw on their knowledge and expertise of planning and delivering employability services. In addition, we reviewed a number of recent reports (see References) including the interim evaluation of the New Futures Fund (Phase 2).

Next Steps

In 2004, EIU will organise a series of multi-agency seminars around Scotland aimed at supporting the development of effective employability provision for drug users. One of the objectives will be to explore in more detail the routes and pathways that drug users can follow depending on their circumstances and on the range of provision available in their area.

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