This page will contain resources and links to information about working effectively with individuals who use substances.
NEW Practice Paper published by the Home Office: Improving Practice in Housing for Drug Users is the report of a practice sharing programme of research. The report covers local approaches, national strategies, case studies, use of information and data, outcomes systems, templates, key facts and a useful section on terminology.
Clean Break a toolkit designed to help assist commissioners, service providers and strategic leads for drug and housing services create more integrated housing and care pathways for drug users engaging in treatment services, developed by TRIBAL, in conjunction with Homeless Link and with support from London Housing Federation, the Housing Corporation, Newham Substance Misuse Partnership. Clean Break is available free on our new Toolkits website
Finding the Key is guidance produced by Providence Row and Impact on developing a good practice guide to key working in hostels with homeless people who drink heavily. The aim of this report is to help develop outcome measures for wet hostels by setting out a practical toolkit that will promote best practice. The toolkit is focused on maximizing individual potential, improving health, and improving the quality of life for women and men living in wet hostels. The toolkit also includes a “life mapping” element to the assessment process. The toolkit should help staff develop their key working skills and help them work more effectively with residents in a wet service. This report shows that a range of quality interventions can be achieved, and it offers useful pointers to inform the development of similar services in the future.
Turning Point, in association with COCA has produced Protocols and good practice guidelines for working with crack users in generic substance misuse services which, although not designed for the temporary accommodation sector includes some general advice and information that hostel workers, who may well work with people who use crack cocaine, should be aware of.