New specialist substance misuse support workers are being recruited in various sites across the UK, to help tackle the link between drugs and crime.

Interventions Alliance, part of the employee-owned Seetec Group, is recruiting these specialists into each of the ‘CFO Activity Hubs’ it runs in Bristol, Chatham, Hastings, Liverpool, Manchester, and Warrington. These Hubs already offer support ranging from skills training to help with securing employment to individuals who are on their rehabilitation journey. Participants are offered tailored support, receive advice and guidance and interact with positive role models and peers at a similar stage of their journey.

Improving the effectiveness of drug prevention and treatment, and helping more people recover from dependence, is an ongoing priority across the UK. Over 300,000 people are addicted to heroin and crack cocaine in the UK, and these drugs alone are thought to be linked to around early half of acquisitive crimes (excluding fraud), such as theft, burglary and robbery.

At the end of 2021 the Government set out a 10-year drugs strategy, From Harm to Hope, in response to Dame Carol Black’s Independent Review of Drugs. The 10-year strategy set out plans to rebuild drug treatment and recovery services, including for young people and offenders. Through the recruitment of these new specialists, Interventions Alliance is already forging ahead with solutions to substance misuse problems in the communities it serves.

Suki Binning, Interventions Alliance Chief Social Worker/Executive Director of Justice, Social Care and Skills at Seetec, said:

“At Interventions Alliance we are delighted to be increasing the range of support we provide to people who on their rehabilitation journey. In forging ahead with the recruitment of these new specialists, we are in the vanguard in delivering valuable support to those who are currently suffering from substance misuse in the communities we serve.

“People who use substances are a priority group for us in Interventions Alliance, and the CFO Activity Hubs are well placed to adapt and to be an early part of this strategic effort.

“Many former offenders with these issues struggle to meet the thresholds to fully access external specialist services, or they have other factors which mean that they don’t, or wont, access support through the normal channels.

“Some will be on Court mandated Drug Rehabilitation Requirements or Alcohol Treatment Requirements, yet struggle to engage well with the substance misuse services outside of that and not be working towards addressing their needs.

“So, by having specialist knowledge and skills on site will give easy access to advice, interventions and direction to those participants who need it.”