Introducing the Recovery Practice Development Tool (RPDT) O N BEHALF OF THE W EST M IDLANDS D RUG & A LCOHOL T REATMENT S YSTEM

Context “The investment made in the drug treatment system over the last decade has built capacity and enabled people to access treatment for a sufficient period of time to bring about substantial health gains. We now need to … become much more ambitious for individuals to leave treatment free of their drug or alcohol dependence” Drug Strategy 2010 “The investment made in the drug treatment system over the last decade has built capacity and enabled people to access treatment for a sufficient period of time to bring about substantial health gains. We now need to … become much more ambitious for individuals to leave treatment free of their drug or alcohol dependence” Drug Strategy 2010 “Treatment services need to create an accessible and integrated ‘offer’ of treatment that is personalised and optimised to promote and support wide recovery objectives for every person in treatment. Medication to support abstinence from illicit drugs will remain a necessary component of treatment for many but medication alone is unlikely to be sufficient to support an individual achieving recovery. Neither is abstinence alone.” Strang Report, 2012 “Treatment services need to create an accessible and integrated ‘offer’ of treatment that is personalised and optimised to promote and support wide recovery objectives for every person in treatment. Medication to support abstinence from illicit drugs will remain a necessary component of treatment for many but medication alone is unlikely to be sufficient to support an individual achieving recovery. Neither is abstinence alone.” Strang Report, 2012

It has been informed by people who have experience of, both, active addiction and recovery from addiction to drugs and alcohol. It places service users right at the centre of discussions; using their experiences and perceptions to elicit the necessary changes. The ‘workforce project consortium’ members should be utilised to facilitate groups & assess evidence. These trained individuals have experience of the treatment system and good practice, in being recovery oriented. The scheme provides an opportunity for people in recovery to learn new skills and gain useful work experience. Service Users at the Centre This toolkit is not a quality assured audit or training tool package. Its aim is to merely stimulate open and transparent dialogue among users, providers and treatment systems.

Recovery Practice Development Tool (RPDT) A tool to measure the extent to which practice in substance misuse treatment is recovery focused and supports agencies to self-evaluate, whether they have adopted recovery-oriented practices. Developed to help providers assess and consider their practice in a participative, supportive and developmental way.

Delivered by: A multi-disciplinary project team that could include: Practitioners / other agency staff Service volunteers / peer mentors / recovery coaches Service users/ex-service users in recovery A project co-ordinator (agency manager, consultant) Commissioner / DAAT representative Members of the Workforce Development Team A multi-disciplinary project team that could include: Practitioners / other agency staff Service volunteers / peer mentors / recovery coaches Service users/ex-service users in recovery A project co-ordinator (agency manager, consultant) Commissioner / DAAT representative Members of the Workforce Development Team

Evidence of Practice Sources to include: Service User Assessments* Service Documentation / Information* Service User Treatment / Recovery Plans* Practitioner Groups / Interviews** Service Users Groups / Interviews** * Evidence & support sheets are available in the RPDT Manual **A suggested questionnaire is available in the RPDT Manual Sources to include: Service User Assessments* Service Documentation / Information* Service User Treatment / Recovery Plans* Practitioner Groups / Interviews** Service Users Groups / Interviews** * Evidence & support sheets are available in the RPDT Manual **A suggested questionnaire is available in the RPDT Manual

Examples from Toolkit (available in hard copy and electronic) One of the evidence sheets available in the toolkit Example of one each of the service user & practitioner questions

The Score Matrix The matrix is populated with the scores from each of the evidence sheets (up to 20 individuals). It will then automatically calculate these to produce one overall average or mean score for each heading

Development Plan The score matrix can offer an indication of where the organisation / service is strongest and where targeted attention is needed. These areas for improvement can be recorded on the plan to provide a baseline against which to assess progress on a regular basis.

The value of this tool-kit: Service users / people in recovery are kept at the centre; An holistic partnership view of the treatment system / providers; Involves staff, users, volunteers, families, commissioners, other stakeholders as appropriate; Based on evidence and personal experiences, knowledge or perceptions; Opportunity for people in recovery to learn new skills and gain valuable work experience. The value of this tool-kit: Service users / people in recovery are kept at the centre; An holistic partnership view of the treatment system / providers; Involves staff, users, volunteers, families, commissioners, other stakeholders as appropriate; Based on evidence and personal experiences, knowledge or perceptions; Opportunity for people in recovery to learn new skills and gain valuable work experience. Recovery Oriented Practice in Action