I have examined a copy of the Suffolk Drug & Alcohol Action Team
Strategy 2009-2011
It starts “Our Mission
‘Suffolk DAAT is committed to reducing the harm drugs and alcohol causes individuals, families and our communities. We work for the people of Suffolk to continually improve drug and alcohol treatment and deliver the best possible services.’
We will achieve this by:”
Then some of the bullet points are of interest regarding the future of Iceni.
· Improving access to, and the quality of, drug treatment using clear performance managed contracts with commissioned services and a strong focus upon successful treatment completions.
As it says that, as Iceni has an exceptional track record in regards to successful treatment completions we must ask how the withdrawal of its contract is in line with the DAAT’s strategy.
· Reduce drug and alcohol related crime by working closely with Suffolk’s Community Safety Partnerships, Suffolk Constabulary and Suffolk’s drug treatment agencies and measured by our crime statistics.
If that is the case we should ask how the withdrawal of funding is working with the drug treatment agency of Iceni.
· Ensuring drug using offenders are effectively engaged in treatment from arrest through incarceration and in returning to the community. Delivered by the Drug Intervention Programme, Prolific and other Priority Offender scheme and the Integrated Drug Treatment System.
As Iceni has an exceptional track record we must ask how withdrawing funding is guaranteeing the continuation of the Integrated Drug Treatment System.
· Working with the Supporting People programme to keep people who abuse substances in the community and to develop their skills for independent living.
Now we must ask how without Iceni people can continue to be treated within the community of Ipswich. There is no guarantee that they won’t have to go to Bury Saint Edmunds or Lowestoft.
After this it’s basically 18 pages of strategies and pointless targets because the labour government was obsessed with them.
