Sunny Dhadley FRSA Service User Involvement Officer (SUIT)

‘A resource is a source or supply from which benefit is produced. Typically resources are materials, energy, services, staff, knowledge, or other assets that are transformed to produce benefit and in the process may be consumed or made unavailable. Benefits of resource utilisation may include increased wealth, meeting needs or wants, proper functioning of a system, or enhanced well being. From a human perspective a natural resource is anything obtained from the environment to satisfy human needs and wants. From a broader biological or ecological perspective a resource satisfies the needs of a living organism’.

 Those individuals suffering from addiction may also require support in many other areas e.g. Mental Health, Poverty, Indebtedness, Low levels of education etc..  In 2014/15, SUIT supported 791 individuals who presented with 59 differing areas of need.  Employability should be phased in, based on presenting need at the earliest point possible -: Recovery Substance Misuse, Mental Health, Interventions etc. Housing, Warmth, Love, Positive Connections, Purpose & Meaning Employability

In todays society we are bombarded with information, that if acknowledged and utilised & monitored (for effectiveness), can be used to support our clients in many ways.

Between 1 st September 2015 and 31 st December 2015 we supported 233 individuals on 782 occasions. Here is a breakdown on the type of support/guidance/signposting that was given -: 1010 interventions, signposts and referrals

In Q3, SUIT worked in collaboration with a total of 176 different agencies, companies, departments and resources to meet individual need.

1. Can you please think about some of the resources that you currently utilise and some that are not well used or missing? 2. What are the main barriers/obstacles that you feel may be in place to effectively support drug/alcohol users into employment? 3. Should there be a minimum standard(s) of employability that all partners sould aspire to? If so, what should the standard (s) be? 4. If you could change one thing about your practice, or system that you operate in (in order to achieve enhanced employment outcomes for clients) what would it be? 5. Are there any gaps in training or knowledge that you feel exist?

‘We must not forget that there is a great deal of good work that currently takes place amongst a plethora of service providers and organisations. However, there is a growing expectation to deliver more and more services with decreasing financial contributions. I believe that this provides an excellent opportunity to work collaboratively with already existing resources and to forge new working relationships with the corporate, statutory and voluntary sector, in order to achieve the maximum impact on society’. Sunny Dhadley FRSA Service User Involvement Officer SUIT, c/o WVSC Please feel free to add me on – Sunny Dhadley FRSA Thank you for your time and contribution.