DIP is committed to driving this strategy forward and to ensuring that all communities are served equally and effectively. Now that DIP has matured it is the time to go beyond just looking at the numbers entering treatment. We need to ensure that DIP is engaging with all those who need its services.
DIP and the NTA have more robust data and are gaining a greater understanding of diversity issues across the Programme. This data will be used to support the delivery of the Plan and to ensure that it increases the accessibility of appropriate treatment and support to all
A South East DIP Equality and Diversity working group has now been set up and had its first meeting on May 14th. This group will meet four times a year to discuss specific areas of diversity across workforce, service provision and community engagement. Findings and action from this group will be posted on this site regularly along with the terms of reference and analysis.
A regional symposium was held at the GOSE office in Guildford on 29th July, where working group members presented a variety of projects aimed at meeting the needs of particular groups within their community. The board was made up of Home Office, other regional Government Office representatives, service users from Oxford and Reading and various representatives from organisations such as UCLAN and EATA. Minutes of the meeting can be found below.
On 25th November 2008, the group met again to bring together a regional action plan for the next two yearrs. Key activities include:
- Reviewing what drug services are available to diverse groups across the South East
- Reviewing what local partnerships have carried out needs' assessments/equality impact assessments which take account of diversity in local populations
- Disseminating good practice and encourage partnerships to conduct similar assessments. This will in turn improve the availability and accessibility of drug services for diverse client groups through improvements in commissioning and the DAAT treaatment planning process
- Working with Home Office representatives and providers to identify the perceptions of cautioning within specific communities across the South East. The group will use these findings to see how cautioning and other diversionary activities can be more effective in reducing re-offending
- Working with Home Office representatives and providers to understand how the Corston Report recommendations will impact on partners managing substance misuse services.
- Reviewing what training packages are already available for CJIT and CARAT staff in understanding and working with diverse client needs
The next meeting will be held on 10th February 2009. The action plan and terms of reference for this group can be found below.
