LDAN Network Meeting (TUESDAY 22nd JULY 2008)

Tuesday 22nd July 2008 from 2-4.30pm,

The new drug strategy makes supporting the needs of families, carers and children of drug-misusing parents a priority, outlining the importance of treatment services accessible to parents and drug practitioners with skills to work with families.

LDAN is delighted to be working with Adfam to organise a network meeting on what the family policy means in practice.

We will be hearing from specialist practitioners working with families, innovative projects including "Breaking the Cycle" from Addaction and the new Family Drug & Alcohol Court.

The event on Tuesday 22nd July is FREE but places are limited so booking essential.

To book a place please contact Shona at LDAN: 020 7704 0004 or email info@ldan.org.uk with your name, job title, organisation and a contact number.

Developing First Line Managers Course

NOW BOOKING!New dates announced.

This course is open to both LDAN and non-LDAN members. It is essentially a programme of management development, which offers an opportunity to develop greater confidence and management skills. The programme has been developed to meet the training needs of people who have recently taken up position as service managers, and is particularly aimed at those who have moved from practitioner to management positions. It takes the form of a series of workshops, which run over four full days, covering areas such as Managing Yourself, Managing Staff, Managing Change, and Managing for the Future. The course has been running since 2000, and this one will be the twenty-first round.

Course dates are:

• Thursday October 30th 2008
• Tuesday December 9th 2008
• Tuesday 13th January 2009
• Wednesday 11th February 2009

The venue will be a central location to be confirmed on receipt of application.

Places on the programme are limited to 12 participants and will be allocated on a first come first serve basis subject to approval.

Click here to download an application form.

LDAN Young People's Drug and Alcohol Forum (TUESDAY OCTOBER 7th 2008)

Tuesday October 7th 2008 from 2-4.30pm,

As usual we will be hearing news from forum members about new services and developments as well as providing an opportunity to question your peers on any working issues you are struggling with in a supportive environment. Guest presenters TBC

If you would like the opportunity to present your organisation or a specific new project please get in touch.

This forum is open to anyone working with young people in a drug or alcohol service in London and it is free to attend. To book a place for the next meeting, please contact Shona at LDAN: 020 7704 0004 or email shona.flannigan@ldan.org.uk.

So You Want To Be A Manager
February 19th 2007

Who is this course for?
This course has been specifically designed for those experienced workers who are aiming for promotion into their first management position within 12 months.

Topics covered will include: Planning your career/ What do managers actually do all day? / What skills do managers use? /How can I develop these skills? / Personal Development Planning

Time
This workshop will run from 9:30am – 4:30pm. A sandwich lunch will be provided. (Please indicate any special dietary requirements on the application form).

Venue
The Workshops will take place in a central London venue to be confirmed.

Click here to download an application form.

LDAN ANNUAL CONFERENCE DECEMBER 2007
Complex Needs - But Are They Ever Simple?
This event took place on Thursday 6th December 2007

Treating addiction is no longer enough. The new drug strategy is expected to shift drug services focus away from narrow treatment outcomes towards users’ broader healthcare, employment, housing and education needs. But is this a realistic goal and have services not been catering for users so-called complex needs for some time already?

LDAN’s Annual Conference provides drug and alcohol workers with an opportunity to get the latest policy and practice news on this very important issue for the sector.

The issues explored will include why the issue of complex needs has come centre stage in the drug strategy debate ; how drug and alcohol services are responding to the policy shift; and what needs to change to provide a coordinated response to clients’ alcohol, housing and mental health
needs.

We will hear from a range of speakers offering different perspectives as policy makers, providers and service users. Our workshops will profile models of treatment outside the traditional remit of services and offer practical suggestions to inform best practice and develop new perspectives on service provision.

Our assembled panel of experts will be invited to put forth their ideas on the opportunities and challenges presented in the new drug and alcohol strategies that address the complex needs of drug and alcohol users.

LDAN BME NETWORK MEETING 7 NOV 2007
BME Drug and alcohol use - are substance misuse services equipped to cope?

This meeting was on November 7th 2007. All papers are available to download here. If you would like to be added to a mailing list to hear about future diversity events please email your name, organisation and contact details to info@ldan.org.uk


Research suggests that London’s growing black and minority ethnic population are using drugs and drugs increasingly. But can substance misuse services focused on helping Class A dependent users cater for the more diverse support and treatment needs of BME users?


Subjects covered include:

- the extent of drug and alcohol use among BME communities;

- barriers to accessing and engaging BME users in treatment;

- how generic services can cater for diverse needs;

- substance misuse among A8 migrants and their support needs


Presentations now available to download here:
- Jane Fountain, Centre for Ethnicity and Health, University of Central Lancashire
"Barriers to drug service access: data from Department of Health’s Black and minority ethnic drug misuse needs assessment project 2000-2006"
To download the presentation click here

- Karen Mills, University of Hertfordshire, co-author of the recently published report - Beyond Boundaries Offering Substance Misuse Services to New Migrants in London
To download the presentation click here

- Harrinder Dhillon, Service Director at DASL
To download the presentation click here

Alcohol workshops organised by alcoholpolicy.net and LDAN

These free workshops are aimed at driving local action on alcohol through practical guidance and are targeted at local alcohol champions (i.e anyone who wants to get things moving on alcohol)


15 May: Tackling street drinking – DPPOs, wet centres and other likely stories This workshop will explore current problems and solutions associated with street drinking, including sessions on: street drinking in London today: population profiles, policy context, implications for ASB and treatment;evidence for what works; overview of current solutions in London – has anyone cracked it; key players to engage; action planning.


3 July: Alcohol, antisocial behaviour and offending - Breaking the Link This workshop will look at: the links between alcohol, asb and offending;what you can measure; theory and good practice in addressing alcohol-related offending and offenders (in prison and the community);key local players you need to engage


15 August: Alcohol and Domestic violence – Working with DV victims who have alcohol problems This workshop will look at the links between suffering DV and using alcohol; why we need to address this; theory and good practice; key players you need to engage


3 October: Alcohol and domestic violence - Working with perpetrators who have alcohol problems This workshop will look at:what we know about alcohol-related DV; theory and best practice in reducing DV by tackling perpetrators alcohol problems; key players you need to engage; what to do next


12 November: Alcohol, Children and Families – Developing useful strategies within existing resources This workshop will look at: an overview of the current situation – evidence and policy; new resources and guidance on what works; children’s trusts, safeguarding children boards and other important local organisations you need to know about; practical steps you can take; key players you need to engage


These workshops are held in a central London venue between 2 and 4.30pm. To book please email info@ldan.org.uk with you name, job title, organisation and phone number or call 020 7704 0004 to speak Jim Bishop or Shona Flannigan (full venue details supplied on booking)For more information on alcoholpolicy.net click here

ADFAM & LDAN Consultation for Families of Problem Drinkers
Thursday 2nd August 2007

Adfam and London Drug and Alcohol Network are running a CONFIDENTIAL consultation event in London to find out what support is needed to help families of problem drinkers and the professionals that work with families. The event forms part of a
series of consultations taking place across the country which will help inform national policy and drive future practice.

Where: The Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Fund, The County Hall, Westminster Bridge Road, London, SE1 7PB

When: Thursday 2nd August between 10am and 1pm.

For more information or to book a place please contact Adfam on: 020 7553 7649 or email n.sorensen@adfam.org.uk

Click here to download the flyer if you would like to help publicise this event.

LDAN 2006 Annual Conference Presentations

LDAN's annual conference, "Alcohol:The Forgotten Substance in Drug Treatment" was held on 6 December 2006. The conference assessed the priority given to alcohol misuse by policy makers, commissioners and service providers when treating clients with both drug and alcohol issues, and explored how services can ensure all clients' treatment needs are met.

What Does Alcohol Mean To Me?
This session looked at alcohol treatment from different perspectives - that of a service user, commissioner and service provider.

• Colin Standfield, Battling Addictions Together
• Paul Jenkins, Director of service Development, Westminster Primary Care Trust
• Sally Scriminger, Chief Executive, Alcohol Recovery Project

Alcohol: Where Do We Go From Here?
This session looked at what can be done to stem the steady rise in alcohol misuse and more effectively treat people with alcohol problems.

• John Podmore, Rugby House Managerment Committee, Former Governor HMP Brixton
• Claudia Salazar, Nurse Consultant, CNWL Mental Health Trust
• Matthew Bradby, The Drinkaware Trust

LDAN Drugs & Crime Forum

News dates to be confirmed shortly.This Forum used to be known as the LDAN Drugs and Criminal Justice Forum but now has a wider remit. The next meeting is on All meetings run from 2-4.30pm and are held at London Probation,Mitre House Borough High Street, SE1 .