Working with i-access as part of the leadership team this is a new role that has recently been created to improve the services provided to people with co-occurring mental health and substance misuse problems.There are both clinical and systems aspects to the role.On the clinical side, I offer Targeted, time limited interventions with the more complex dual diagnosis service users held by community mental health teams. Service users must not currently be open to i-access, may lack insight into substance misuse or be reluctant to engage in substance misuse treatment. I offer a limited period of motivational engagement 3-4 sessions. If service use agrees to further structured treatment, then they will be open up to i-access and allocated a key worker and further care planning. I also offer Advice and guidance around substance misuse to both staff and those who use our services. From a systems perspective I am the lead for dual diagnosis and act as a point of contact for interagency discussions around systemic challenges relating to co-occurring substance misuse and mental health, working to build relationships between teams to improve communication and promote seamless joint working. I promote the team through attendance and presentations at team meetings, interagency and community events. Being a champion for our shared responsibility to meet the needs of those with co-occurring substance misuse and mental health challenges. I play a central role in our services commitments to be part of the plan to transform mental health services, exploring the data and quality of data available and how this can be improved on a system level.

Working as a Substance Misuse Specialist, providing substance misuse treatment to working age adults in north west Surrey. I provide treatment, care coordination and prescription management to clients on a one to one basis and facilitate psychoeducation groups around addiction. I provide clinical supervision within the team and represent my organisation at a number of multiagency forums.

This team focuses on providing care under a recovery model to adults with severe and enduring mental health issues. My main role within the team was the care coordination which involved supporting clients in the pursuit of their recovery goals in a number of ways including one to one support and counselling, advocacy, referral to and coordination of appropriate services, assessing need under care act eligibility criteria and applying for funding for support packages.Other duties included assessment and presentation of new referrals, working on the duty rota, providing cover for the rapid response team, supporting clients and providing information and reports at Mental health Act assessments and Tribunals.

This team focuses on providing care under a recovery model to adults with severe and enduring mental health issues. My main role within the team was the care coordination which involved supporting clients in the pursuit of their recovery goals in a number of ways including one to one support and counselling, advocacy, referral to and coordination of appropriate services, assessing need under care act eligibility criteria and applying for funding for support packages.Other duties included assessment and presentation of new referrals, working on the duty rota, providing cover for the rapid response team, supporting clients and providing information and reports at Mental health Act assessments and Tribunals.

The Involuntary Drug and Alcohol Treatment program (IDAT) (with the legislative backing of the Drug and Alcohol Treatment Act 2007) provides withdrawal and treatment for those with serious substance use issues in danger of being hurt or hurting others and who lack capacity to make appropriate decisions because of their substance use/addiction. As the first Social Worker to work under this new legislation, I played a major role in developing the mechanisms by which the programme operates such as the case management model, components of outreach and the group programme and helped define the Social Work role in the context of IDAT with the following key responsibilities:• One to One/Joint counselling/planning sessions with both inpatients and out patients• Group Work – developing implementing and facilitating groups• Discharge planning/care coordination• Coordinating referrals and liaising with appropriate Australian agencies/services/programmes i.e. Guardianship Tribunal, ACAT, DADHC, Police, Local MH/D&A, NGO Care Providers • Coordinating/Facilitating family/support team meetings• Locating and securing appropriate short and long term placements/accommodation• Supporting clients with investigating aspects of aftercare plan i.e. volunteer work, community groups and further education • Supporting clients with applications to housing, employment services • Continued ongoing support for IDAT graduates within our area• Arranging and negotiating payment of brokered goods and services

MPDAN is an innovative partnership approach to doing business between primary health care and drug and alcohol specialist partners throughout the Murdi Paaki region. This new approach attempts to move away from the traditional ‘fly in fly out’ model of D&A delivery in remote rural communities. Although there is a strong clinical element, the main aim of this new model is to develop the capacity within these communities to run their own D&A services. My role within the organisation was to provide outreach to a number of remote communities, providing a link between the hub based in Orange and network sites. In addition to providing clinical services including counselling, referrals, I undertook many capacity development activities, predominantly with our partners (Aboriginal Medical Services in most cases) but also mainstream primary health and support agencies such as NGOs, Probation, Police and Community Organisations.