|  Commissioning
drug and alcohol treatment and support services for
young people, adults, families and carers throughout
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire User Team (OUT)
Glenda Daniels
James House
45A James Street
Oxford
OX4 1EU
Telephone:
01865 209111
Mobile:
07986 816955
Email:
glenda.daniels@oxfordshireuserteam.org.uk
Web site:
www.oxfordshireuserteam.org.uk
User Involvement
strategy
Introduction
Oxfordshire User Team (OUT) is a user-led, organisation
promoting social inclusion and providing opportunities
for people overcoming drug and alcohol issues. OUT is
an independent, innovative charity working with drug
users and user groups in Oxfordshire and the South East
of England. OUT is committed to working in partnership
with drug service providers, commissioners and related
organisations to improve treatment provision and reduce
the negative impact of drug use on the health, safety
and social wellbeing of individuals and the wider community.
Organisational Aims
- Encourage user involvement in drug treatment provision
- Promote harm reduction and self help through peer
education and support
- Provide a route into employment for ex-offenders
and the long-term unemployed
- Represent drug users in national policy making and
local decision making
- Act as a treatment watchdog in Oxfordshire
- Share good practice and provide on going support
to emerging user groups
OUT was set up in 2002. It evolved from peer education
sessions which proved a useful forum for conducting
consultations with users on a wide number of issues
that are then fed into local treatment provision and
the local Drug Action Team. OUT gained charitable status
in October 2003. The team currently has two full time
staff (Service Manager and Project Worker) and eight
volunteers. OUT is offered ongoing support from the
Oxfordshire Drug and Alcohol Action Team (DAAT) Commissioning
Team.
User Involvement
- OUT gives input to decision making, represents the
users’ voice, and conducts consultations with
users, on drug related issues. OUT aims to improve
drug treatment provision and related services by acting
as a watchdog and consultative body. A few examples:
- OUT inputs a user perspective to annual treatment
planning and commissioning processes conducted by
Oxfordshire DAAT
- In September 2004, OUT consulted with drug users
on the specifications for a new aftercare service,
to be provided by a local voluntary sector agency,
for people leaving prison or structured drug treatment
- OUT takes part in yearly reviews of all the drug
treatment services in Oxfordshire funded by DAAT,
ensuring that users voices are heard and that any
issues that are uncovered through in depth user consultation,
are acted upon and dealt with to improve service provision
OUT is encouraging agencies working with drug users
to adopt sustainable user involvement mechanisms.
Services for Users in Oxfordshire
OUTSMART Overdose
Workshops about overdose prevention delivered by OUT
peer educators.
OUTlive Hepatitis C Project
www.oxfordhepc.co.uk
Workshops and information related to raising awareness
of Hepatitis C and preventative techniques.
Peer Advocacy
This service represents users experiencing difficulties
with drug and alcohol related servcies.
Support for User Groups
OUT offers a range of support for organisations setting
up User Groups both in the South East and countrywide.
OUT Volunteers
OUT offers current and ex-users the opportunity to volunteer
for the service enabling them to gain valuable skills
and experience.
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Hepatitis C
The OUTlive Hepatitis C project includes:
- Peer education workshops on Hepatitis C
- Promotional campaign to encourage safer injecting
techniques and safe disposal of equipment
- Training on blood borne viruses to pharmacists,
General Practitioners, and front-line staff, and
- Monthly peer support group
The aims of this project are to raise awareness of
Hepatitis C and preventative techniques, encourage people
at risk to present for testing, and signpost those affected
by Hepatitis C to appropriate helping agencies.
Peer Education Workshops
Fortnightly peer education workshops aimed at drug
users and carers are held in different venues in Oxfordshire.
The main focus of the workshops is prevention and safer
drug taking practice.
Hepatitis C Testing
If you think you may have Hepatitis C, talk to your
GP, or health adviser at the Harrison Department, Radcliffe
Infirmary, Woodstock Road, Oxford.
Walk in testing is available at the Harrison Department
(no appointment needed) between 1:30pm and 2:30pm Monday
to Friday. For appointments phone 01865 246036
For further information, please go to www.oxfordhepc.co.uk
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OUTSMART Overdose
OUT peer educators deliver workshops on overdose prevention
and response to intravenous drug users. Workshops are
held over two consecutive afternoons every month in
different venues throughout Oxfordshire.
This is a partnership project with Oxfordshire Ambulance
NHS Trust. During the first session OUT peer educators
discuss the risks around overdose and dispel myths,
and on the following afternoon a training instructor
from the ambulance service delivers a practical session
on basic life support techniques.
OUT peer educators deliver training on basic drugs
awareness to trainee paramedics and technicians. They
also deliver training on overdose prevention and response
to staff working in agencies accessed by drug users.
OUT is working with Thames Valley Police to ensure
that drug users are informed that police will not routinely
attend overdose incidents.
Police in OxfordCity have been trained to use ambu-bags
(breathing apparatus) and these are now to be found
in all police cars in the city.
The OUTSMART overdose workshops are one element of
Oxfordshire’s Drug Related Death Strategy which
aims to reduce the number of drug related deaths in
the county.
Harm Reduction
Strategy
Please encourage drug users and carers to attend these
workshops. Places must be booked in advance via the
OUT office. Booklets on overdose prevention and response
are available on request.
Further information about the National Programme to
reduce Drug Related Deaths can be found on the National
Treatment Agency website.
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Peer Advocacy
Trained peer advocates represent users experiencing
difficulties with drug and alcohol and related services.
Advocates are supported by and seek advice when necessary
from a local independent advocacy service, Allied Advocacy
and a national organisation, The Alliance. OUT advocates
have successfully mediated in many cases and the service
is utilised by both users and service providers throughout
Oxfordshire.
If you, or someone you support, are experiencing any
difficulty with drug and/or alcohol services in Oxfordshire
please contact OUT.
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Support For User Groups
Oxfordshire User Team offers advice and support to
other DAATs both locally and countrywide which are developing
User Involvement.
OUT Manual “A Practical Guide to User Involvement
and Peer Education”
This was written by OUT in December 2003 for the National
Treatment Agency (NTA). The manual is free to user groups
and representatives in the South East and is available
for purchase to groups and DAATs in other regions.
Support for User Groups in the South East
OUT is assisting user groups in setting up, and supporting
existing groups in the South East region. Training is
offered to group members on user involvement, NTA, DAATs,
government drug strategy and any other related issues.
For further information, please contact the OUT office.
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OUT Volunteers
OUT Volunteers are recruited from the local community.
The team is made up of current and ex-users who are
encouraged to take on roles within the group and be
trained to deliver OUT services, peer education workshops,
advocacy, and help in running the OUT office. This enables
the volunteers to work towards personal goals and to
gain work experience. They receive a minimum six month
work placement and are encouraged to move on to paid
employment or full time education when ready.
Voluntunteer Activities in OUT
Volunteers working with OUT will be involved and supported
in inputting to all core activities:
- Delivering peer education sessions
- Promoting self help
- Acting as a treatment watchdog and representing
user views in decision making (user involvement)
- Providing practical advocacy for drug users (with
the support of trained advocates)
- Delivering training highlighting the experience
of the user to agency staff
- Undertaking research and needs assessment projects
- Disseminating harm reduction information to drug
users
- Assisting with group work and training activities
- Conducting drug user consultation
- Providing a role model to encourage more positive
lifestyles
- Providing general and administrative assistance
to the organisation
- Supporting professional staff in a range of activities
- Undertaking a college training schedule and other
training offered, as part of their ‘volunteer
plan’ to encourage personal development.
For further information, please contact the OUT office.
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