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Appendix F: Differences in the Three Pilot Models
While the procedures for drug testing and initial referral by the police for assessment is the same in each site, the models of service delivery for assessment and voluntary uptake of treatment, differs in each of the three pilot areas.
Aberdeen
In Aberdeen, the assessments are being undertaken by staff employed by the local authority (Criminal Justice Social Work) and the treatment services are provided by the local health board.
In addition to carrying out a drug test in Aberdeen, if the drug test is negative, the PCSO will ask the arrestee if they would like to be considered for treatment under Arrest Referral. Their answer is noted on the spreadsheet and if they would like to be considered for treatment, the arrestee is given a leaflet and an appointment may be made to see an assessor. In mid 2008, MDTA assessors also took over responsibility for Arrest Referral assessments on a temporary basis until the vacancies for these posts are filled.
If the MDTA test is positive, the arrestee is required to attend an assessment. Towards the end of the pilot, due to a low number of referrals, assessors have operated a daily 'phone-in' policy to ascertain whether they are needed at the police station for an assessment. Assessments in the police station are carried out in the solicitors' interview rooms, with the custody within a secure booth so no contact can be made between the assessor and arrestee. If an assessment is required outwith working hours, arrestees are given an appointment at the assessor's office.
Assessments are carried out by assessors at Criminal Justice Social Work at Aberdeen City Council. The office is centrally located, on Gallowgate, Aberdeen. Assessments are carried out in a private room, with only the assessor and arrestee present.
If an arrestee is willing to undergo treatment, the assessor will refer them onto the appropriate agency - usually the local health board. When MDTA began in June 2007, there were problems with regard to the Health Board providing treatment, and treatment was not put in place until April 2008. A representative from the health board will undertake a further assessment and work on engaging the arrestee in treatment, and the assessor will usually accompany the arrestee to their first few appointments. On occasion, the assessors will undertake work with the arrestee themselves to develop their 'lifeskills', and help them to find accommodation, or put them in touch with other services if this is required.
Edinburgh
In Edinburgh, Turning Point Scotland conduct the initial assessment interview and also link individuals into appropriate treatment providers/services. Assessors are based in St Leonard's police station between 5pm and 9pm, Monday to Friday, and are available during these times if an arrestee has been drug tested and requires an assessment. Turning Point have monitored the times that arrestees have been tested and based their working arrangements around this, changing the times assessors are based in the police station to fit with the times that arrestees are most tested. Assessments in the police station are carried out in the nurse's room in St Leonard's, and comprise the arrestee and an assessor. If the assessor is not in the station at the time of the test, the arrestee is required to attend an assessment appointment at the Turning Point office on Forrest Road, Edinburgh. The assessments are conducted in a private room within the building.
The treatment providers that Turning Point refer onto include SACRO, Cruz 2000, MidPoint, and Pilot 9. The main treatment provider is SACRO which has a fast-track methadone scheme of which the majority of arrestees who take up treatment are referred onto. On occasion, the assessors have attended the first treatment appointment with the arrestee, otherwise, the treatment provider will take over at this stage.
Glasgow
In Glasgow, assessments and treatment are both offered by Glasgow Addiction Services ( GAS). The model of service delivery advocated by GAS allows people referred into MDTA to link into existing treatment and care structures in the area and into the wider addiction services offered in the city. MDTA assessors use a combination of the Single Shared Assessment ( SSA) baseline tool and the development of an Interim Careplan, as well as the provision of harm reduction information and motivational work to encourage engagement with treatment. Based on assessed need identified by the SSA Baseline and Interim Careplan, arrestees may also receive full health and medical checks (physical and mental), follow-up medical treatment if required and links into medical services provided by the Community Addiction team which serves the area in which they live. The recruitment of two addiction nurses and one medic for MDTA also allows clients access to substitute prescription services.
GAS assessors also provide signposting into extensive relevant services with which they are already networked. Ongoing engagement with clients is used to carry out further assessment (a Comprehensive Assessment of Need) addressing wider social issues such as accommodation and employment needs.
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