Agenda item

(1)       Mr Hill and Mr Fitzgerald introduced the Customer & Communities performance dashboard which provided Members with progress against targets set in business plans for key performance and activity indicators. Ms Slaven and Ms Tonkin presented more detailed information on the performance of the Kent Drug and Alcohol Action Team (KDAAT).  

Performance Dashboard

(2)        In response to a question regarding how the calls to the contact centre were prioritised, Mr Crilley explained that calls were prioritised either by options selection or by the person taking the call. 

KDAAT

(3)       Ms Slaven and Ms Tonkin noted comments and answered questions from Members which included the following:

·        Ms Tonkin clarified that the “rate of representation within 6 months” statistic shown on page 54 meant that that 86% of adults exiting drug treatment did not come back into treatment in the next 6 months.

·        Regarding the definition of “successful” in relation to adults exiting drug treatment, Ms Tonkin explained that this meant adults that had engaged with treatment over 12 weeks and had a reduction in use of substance and a positive movement in other parts of their life. 

·        In response to a question on the drug and alcohol service providers, Ms Tonkin listed the main providers, including KCA, Turning Point and CRI. There were a range of voluntary sector providers and NHS providers.

·        Regarding the services provided previously in Dartford by the Kent and Medway Partnership Trust, Ms Slaven explained that there had been a review of the commissioning of Tier 4 services She pointed out that there was no criticism of the service provided by the Trust but as the utilisation of bed space had been less than 50% it was not cost effective. 

·        In relation to the provision of early intervention and treatment services for young people, Ms Tonkin stated that there were early interventions targeted at vulnerable young people including young offenders, children in care and children affected by their parents’ substance misuse. A programme called “Risk it” developed in Kent is used within schools. Where screening was undertaken by the school up to 10 young people were identified as most likely to benefit from support from specialist agencies providing them with an opportunity to explore their situation and the conflicts in their life.

·        The specialist treatment service was a one-to-one service which was peripatetic - the young person was able to meet with a Drug and Alcohol worker in a setting which they felt most comfortable in and could then get to know the worker and understand what they could expect from the service.

·        A Member mentioned that the data for drug use only included those up to the age of 59. Ms Tonkin explained that the data provided was that required by the British Crime Survey. She acknowledged that there was an issue regarding older users, including an increasing number accessing alcohol services. In treatment there were groups of adults who had been heroin and crack cocaine users for some time who were coming into old age. There was a need for elements of health and social care to work more closely together to assist this new cohort.

·        Ms Tonkin confirmed that the drug treatment system in the UK had one of the lowest number of HIV cases amongst injecting drug users in the world at 2%, which had implications for reducing cost to the Health Service.

·        In relation to the figure of 54% of children living with an adult who regularly drank alcohol above the recommended level, Ms Tonkin explained that that this was a reflection of the high level of alcohol use normalised in society.

·        Ms Tonkin undertook to provide Mrs Waters with the drink driving figures for Kent. This issue would be taken up in the new Alcohol Strategy that is being developed.

·        Ms Tonkin explained Kent was more successful than the national evidence-based target in relation to success for adults exiting drug treatment. The reasons for this included a mix of investment in the right place, robust commissioning and clear governance, which together resulted in a good service. Ms Slaven stated that one of the strengths in Kent was the engagement of service users. Although service user groups were no longer funded by KDAAT, these groups had become self sustaining. Service users were actively involved in commissioning and the service user voice was very clear about their expectations for service provision.

·        Ms Honey referred to the change in responsibility for Public Health in April next year, which would be coming to the County Council. Funding would no longer be ring-fenced and she was working with the Director of Public Health to make sure that treatment misuse was a priority and to build on the good work of the team including the link to the work of the troubled families programme.

(4)       RESOLVED that the comments made by Members on the Customer & Communities performance dashboard, including the KDAAT deep dive, be noted and that there be a report to the next meeting of the Committee on the Contact Centre’s three month pilot.