The Mutual Aid Toolkit Megan Jones and Tony Mercer Megan Jones Senior Programme Manager Alcohol & Drugs Team Recovery from Addiction Conference University Of Chester 2nd & 3rd November 2015

National Drug Strategy (2010) Two overarching aims: Reduce illicit and other harmful drug use; and Increase the numbers recovering from their dependence. “Active promotion and support of local mutual aid networks such as Alcoholics and Narcotics Anonymous will be essential.” 2Mutual Aid Toolkit

Active promotion and support of mutual aid Mutual Aid Toolkit PHE ambition: improve recovery rates from alcohol and drug dependency Commitment to increase effective links between treatment and mutual aid organisations Promote awareness of positive benefits of mutual aid for those in treatment Facilitate service users to access groups of their choice PHE strategic action plan for improving access to mutual aid produced August Mutual Aid Toolkit

Why promote it? Evidence : MA likely to improve an individual’s chance of recovery  Extra effect when combined with structured treatment  Continuing support structure reduces rates of post-treatment relapse NICE recommendation: staff should routinely provide people with information about MA groups and facilitate access and engagement Mutual Aid Toolkit 4 Mutual Aid Toolkit

5 Mutual Aid Toolkit Mutual Aid Reference Group - established October 2013 Bi-monthly meetings – ongoing Membership: mutual aid organisations, treatment providers, commissioners, Public Health England Expert advice and guidance on the challenges of building relationships between mutual aid and treatment Develop and oversee implementation of action plan Contribute to the development of products and resources MARG

Mutual Aid Toolkit Objectives 1.Support & improve local understanding of the availability, gaps and barriers to MA 2.Encourage more people in treatment to access MA and monitor uptake 3.Support commissioners and service managers to develop effective local networks 4.Support implementation 6 Mutual Aid Toolkit

Mutual Aid Toolkit: Old Tools Mutual Aid Toolkit 7 Mutual Aid Toolkit

MA Toolkit: New Tools in Mutual Aid Toolkit

The Final Tool: Mutual Aid Framework Sets out the essential steps to take in improving the local provision of mutual aid and its connectivity with structured treatment. Contains some very practical suggestions for implementation: case file audits to measure whether mutual aid is discussed in key work sessions mutual aid steering group mutual aid event Mutual Aid Toolkit 9 Mutual Aid Toolkit

Resources Mutual Aid Toolkit Recovery Resources page of the NTA legacy website Mutual Aid Toolkit

Implementation Monitoring & evaluation Myths Workforce Other barriers What worked well 11Mutual Aid Toolkit

Monitoring & evaluation NDTMS Number of meetings Fellowship surveys Building relationships 12Mutual Aid Toolkit

Myths Religious cult Medication/clean-time Sexual predators 13Mutual Aid Toolkit

Workforce Knowledge & understanding Attending open meetings Job security Co-dependency 14Mutual Aid Toolkit

Other barriers Geography Supply & demand Re-tendering 15Mutual Aid Toolkit

What worked well? Local steering groups Service specifications Staff workshops Bio-psycho-social model Positive social networks Shares from fellowship members Health inequalities 16Mutual Aid Toolkit