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Section 1 Background
The Action Plan in October 2004 which followed the Executive's Review of Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Services recommended development of national standards with an emphasis on outcomes for service users, together with systems for monitoring and evaluation. This recommendation addresses the lack of an overarching agreed framework which describes the quality of provision and delivery required in services for drug misusers and people with alcohol problems, with commitment to the development of such a quality standards framework reinforced through the Executive's Updated Plan for Action on Alcohol Problems.
To begin this process representatives of drug and alcohol services, service commissioners and regulatory bodies such as the Care Commission and the Social Work Inspection Agency met with the Executive to plan a workable framework of quality standards which focus particularly on practical aspects of the quality and integration of services for people with substance misuse problems.
The Steering Group arrived at a consensus about the principles which should underpin the development of quality standards and a framework in which these standards are set.
- There should be a set of common standards across Scotland, published by Scottish Ministers but with local ownership.
- There should be no added burden on services (in the form of another layer of inspections) without being of clear benefit.
- Any evaluation of the use of quality standards should be supportive and address those aspects of practice not covered in existing inspections.
- The standards will cover both drug and alcohol services.
- The implementation of the standards will seek to improve services.
- Development should build on existing good practice.
- There should be substantial service user and community input to any evaluation of the implementation of the standards.
The Steering Group has also drafted 11 overarching standards, each with its set of underpinning statements.
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