This is a Risk Map that we’ve been working on for quite a while. Probably more than any other service area substance misuse lends itself to our approach that focusses on protective factors and prevention. The many and complex issues that people present to services inevitably mean that organisations need to work together to support clients. Our new Substance Misuse Risk Map is an easy way to map the range of social, behavioural and clinical support someone may need, but more importantly demonstrates the success that you have helping people.
All of the risk and protective factors that we have identified have been taken from a range of National Outcome Frameworks. This means that as you help remove risks you are achieving outcomes that are evidence based and directly in line with the requirements of commissioners.
There are similar themes that run across this map which are consistent with the Marmot approach to Public Health, which means we are recording risks around financial hardship, housing and employment. We have also added some additional risks that directly relate to access to HIV and Hepatitis testing and whether or not clients are provided access to appropriate psychological interventions. In creating this map we have focussed on trying to incorporate as much best practice from N.I.C.E. Quality Standards as possible.
The National Outcome Frameworks we have called on to create this map are:-
- Improving Outcomes and Supporting Transparency
- Social Justice Outcomes Framework
- Adult Social Care Outcome Framework
- N.I.C.E. Guidance
This is a comprehensive overview of the sort of issues that people with substance misuse present with and more importantly provides an objective basis to demonstrate the impact you have.
We would like to thank the substance misuse agencies we have worked with in developing this map, the input from people that work day to day with clients helps us to be sure that it works in real world situations. The substance misuse risk map is now available for all organisations using the Risk Tracker system.