A Cumbrian charity has launched an innovative new service to help families affected by substance use.
West Cumbria Family Support, a two-year pilot project, is believed to be the first of its kind in Cumbria and has been set up by Cumbria Alcohol and Drug Advisory Service.
It will operate in Allerdale and Copeland, covering places including Whitehaven, Workington, Egremont, Cleator Moor, Maryport, Wigton, Aspatria, Silloth, Keswick and Cockermouth.
If successful, the aim is to roll it out to the rest of Cumbria.
CADAS has just appointed Amy Armstrong, who lives in Millom, to co-ordinate the new service.
“The plan is to support approximately 15 families per year who have experience of problematic substance use with a longer, more intensive intervention,” said Emma Spedding, north and west service manager for CADAS.
She said an ‘holistic, whole-family approach’ would be taken.
Help would be offered to the family member whose use of drugs and alcohol had become an issue – to identify possible causes of the behaviour and create a plan to reduce the frequency and amount of consumption – and also to anyone in the family unit impacted by it.
At the moment individual members of the same family might be being helped by CADAS staff through, for example, its children’s service, its parent carer family support service or its adult recovery service.
“We could be working with a family but not really joining all the dots,” said Emma.
“With this project we will have a single worker co-ordinating everything with the family. We will be able to create shared language across the family so everyone is communicating using the same terms and is working on the same page.
“Family members will have different targets but they will all understand the plan for the family.”
Emma said a person’s substance use could cause stress for other family members.
That, in itself, could lead to the family member suffering mental health and physical problems and, in some cases, turning to harmful behaviour, including substance use, gambling and overeating.
A three-pronged approach would be taken to help everyone in the family. It would identify things people could do to help with their mental health, such as physical activity or reading.
People would be equipped with tools, such as communication and parenting skills and anger management techniques, to build their resilience and confidence to cope with situations.
They would also be given practical support, such as guidance on where to go to find additional help, including external services such as a GP, Unity (the national drug and alcohol service through the NHS) and Al-Anon, for people whose lives are affected by someone else’s drinking.
Emma explained the new service was particularly aimed at families with very young children or families with children or young people of any age where there were significant issues.
“These are the families where we think we can make the most difference in terms of improving their outcomes and keeping people safe,” said Emma.
Referrals to the service can come from a variety of sources, such as Children’s Services, a hospital’s A&E department, a youth worker, schools, GPs, the police or any professionals working with children aged 0-5.
Amy Armstrong is now contacting agencies to tell them about the service and generate possible referrals.
Agencies can contact Amy by ringing 0300 111 4002 or emailing [email protected]
West Cumbria Family Support has been funded by Sellafield Ltd, through the Cumbria Community Foundation.
Emma added: “I am really excited by the launch of this new, ground-breaking service, which we believe will make a real difference to the lives of families in our community.”
