1. Drug User to Drug Worker Addiction Workers Training Project Catriona Gibson AWTP Co-ordinator

2. Addiction Workers Training Project Employment and training in social care  Work placements  SVQ Level 2 Health and Social Care  Ongoing training and development  Accessing employment opportunities

3. AWTP Outcomes 2005-2007 2005  9 of 11 starts completed; 8 in work 2006  13 of 15 completed; 12 in work 2007  18 of 20 to complete by December 2007;  10 currently have job offers / are in work.

4. Who Are the AWTP Trainees? Information from Interim Report of AWTP Evaluation, FMR Research

5. Demographics & Home Life Average age 35.4 years.  Age range = 24 - 49. 1/3 of trainees female, 2/3 male 10% – 20% self-disclosed as having a disability All white Scottish or white-other 10% - 30% had children living with them full time.

6. Prior Homelessness & Police Contact 77% of trainees perceived themselves to have been homeless at some point in their lives. 93% had been in trouble with the police and nearly half had been in prison at some point in their lives.

7. What Do People Get Out Of AWTP?

8. Trainees’ Expectations of AWTP Turn life around Gain a qualification Increase confidence Help choose the right field to work in Enjoyable work with service users & staff

9. Trainee Concerns 2007 “I did alright when I was at primary school but moving onto secondary school, I was never there and that is the last time I have done anything like that.” “I’m a bit worried that maybe I’ll feel a bit uncomfortable if there’s people in the placements that I know from before.”

10. Trainee Concerns 2007 “I was worried about going to go onto a wage, I’m staying with my mum and it would effect her rent rebate and council tax and all that.” “My family thought maybe I was taking too much on by doing too much too soon.”

11. Trainees’ Reflections 2006 Less of a problem than expected  College work  Past being brought up  Financial pressures  Organising and paying for childcare Mixed response, i.e. some people found difficult  Full time routine  Work situations which were hard to deal with More of a problem than expected  Family / personal problems

12. Feedback from Placements Good communication skills Knowledge of addictions Supportive and empathic Contribute well to project Able to handle routine of full time work Noted importance of gaining a qualification

13. More Information Scottish Drugs Forum 0141 221 1175 catrionag@sdf.org.uk www.sdf.org.uk