11 August 1983

Dear Sir/Madam

TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION OF DRUG MISUSERS:

REPORT OF THE ADVISORY COUNCIL ON THE MISUSE OF DRUGS

GRANTS TO ASSIST LOCAL INITIATIVES

Summary

1. The purpose of this circular is to provide local authorities with information on submitting applications in respect of grants for the treatment and rehabilitation of drug misusers.

Report of the Advisory Council

2. We enclose a copy of the report on Treatment and Rehabilitation of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs which was published in December 1982.

3. The Advisory Council was set up under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 to keep under review the problems of drug misuse and to advise Ministers on ways of dealing with them. Its report follows lengthy consideration by the Council’s Treatment and Rehabilitation Working Group of the changing nature of drug problems and the response of treatment services since the Group’s interim report, which was issued in 1977.

Grants to Assist Local Initiatives

4. Your attention is drawn to the recommendation in paragraph 10.16 of the report that there should be increased funding, direct from central Government, possibly by way of pump-priming grants, to enable new projects to be undertaken for the treatment and rehabilitation of drug misusers. Applications are now invited from Health Boards, Regional Councils and voluntary organisations in respect of local initiatives for improving services provided for drug misusers, which could be helped by a pump-priming grant from the Government. The broad objectives of such local initiatives should be:

(i) to provide an assessment of the nature and extent of drug misuse in the area;

(ii) to improve levels of awareness of the problem of drug misuse, and increase the ability of professionals and others working in this area to help people with drug related problems;

(iii) to improve links between health service provision and other community based services;

(iv) to improve the effectiveness of services available and provide value for money.

5. The scheme for the payment of grants is not intended to remove from statutory authorities the responsibility for providing services and training but by making additional funds available to them and to voluntary organisations to remedy more rapidly than would otherwise be possible any inadequacy in the network of services for people with drug related problems. Proposals should, wherever possible, be designed to facilitate co-operation between statutory and voluntary bodies and priority will be given to those which would help to promote such co-operation and collaboration. Proposals submitted will be considered in consultation with Social Work Services Group where this is appropriate.

6. Funding will be available for both capital and revenue projects over a period of 3 years. Revenue dependent projects can be funded for up to 3 years from the date of the letter from the Scottish Home and Health Department authorising the grant. Details of projects and bids for funding may be submitted by statutory authorities or by voluntary bodies. For the purposes of the scheme a voluntary body is an organisation within the definition given in section 64 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968, ie "a body the activities of which are carried on otherwise than for profit, but (not including) any public or local authority".

7. Applications should meet the following conditions:

(a) Projects should include value for money among their aims. For assessment purposes comparative numerical data may not be available or appropriate but the expected utility of a project should be explained, including where relevant, ways in which a new initiative is expected to make the responses of existing services more effective, or to relieve pressure on less appropriate services.

(b) Short term voluntary sector projects, ie projects expected to be fully completed within the period of the centrally funded grant, should have been the subject of discussion with relevant health and social services authorities.

(c) Any voluntary sector project which will have revenue consequences beyond the period of central funding should have been discussed with the relevant statutory authorities and written confirmation obtained from them indicating that they are prepared, should the voluntary organisation be unable to attract sufficient funds elsewhere, to give consideration to future funding.

(d) The costs of care and support provided by voluntary organisations in hostels run by registered housing associations or linked with them will be eligible for central funding for three years. (The nature of care and support to be provided should be described in the application). It will be necessary to secure a prior undertaking of continuing support from the appropriate statutory authority on termination of the central funding if the scheme is to be eligible for grant under the Housing Act 1974.

(e) Provision should be made for appropriate review of projects or assessment of their utility. Bids should include details of the methods of review or assessment of utility proposed and its estimated costs, which should not be out of proportion to the scale of the project. The cost of this evaluation will be taken into account when setting the amount of each grant.

(f) Proposals for testing new approaches to (in service and post basic) training or professionals should include confirmation that they reflect consultation with the relevant professional training body.

8. Additional copies of the report may be purchased from Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, 71 Lothian Road, Edinburgh EH3 9AZ.

9. It should be noted that this circular represents the genesis of the current arrangements by which local drug agencies receive earmarked government funding. Copies of the circular can be obtained from Mr Fraser Stewart, Social Work Services Group, James Craig Walk, Edinburgh EH1 1DN (Telephone 0131-556-8400). Following an evaluation in 1987 the arrangements described in this circular were developed further when responsibility for funded projects was transferred from The Scottish Office to the relevant health board. The "earmarked" funding of these projects continued to be provided to health boards under the terms of NHS Circular 1987 (GEN)6. Most of the available money under GEN6 funds voluntary sector projects, many of which are supervised and managed by social work departments. In addition, since 1988 all health boards have been given "earmarked" funding for the improvement and expansion of drug misuse services. The announcement of this allocation of resources was made under NHS Circular 1989 (GEN)2. Copies of the circulars are available from Mr Drew Peden, Scottish Office Home & Health Department, Health Policy and Public Health Directorate, St Andrew’s House, Edinburgh EH1 3DE (telephone 0131-244-2500).

Yours faithfully

A M MACPHERSON

R E S ROBINSON

G ANDERSON