Minutes:
Haydn Morris, Chief Executive Officer for Southern Addictions Advisory Service (SAdAS), informed the Committee that the organisation was an independent charity which had been operating in Surrey for 29 years. SAdAS was a contracting agency and worked with Surrey County Council, from whom it received most of its income, and was involved with the Surrey County Council’s Health and Wellbeing Board.
The Committee was informed that the organisation employed 52 members of staff and had a Senior Management Team of 5.
SAdAS was currently principally commissioned to provide preventative work in relation to drugs and alcohol, although it still undertook some work with chaotic people using drugs and alcohol whose behaviour impacted upon the community. Although the organisation was contracted to work with 35 complex needs cases per year, it currently saw 186 per quarter.
Mr Morris informed Members that SAdAS had also worked with high risk people with drug, alcohol and mental health problems who presented a risk in the community but this work had now been decommissioned.
In order to utilise its experiences in this field, SAdAS had sought community connections funding and had developed the Welcome Project, which had been running for 18 months. It was recognised that loneliness and a sense of not feeling valued were key drivers for triggering anxiety, stress and poor wellbeing, which also impinged on an individual’s physical health. The Project was designed to connect and involve people in existing networks already in place in their community. Surrey Heath in particular had seen a huge increase in this area of work since the project’s inception.
The Committee was informed that SAdAS ran counselling services across the County, with over 100 volunteer counsellors providing drugs and alcohol counselling, and some mental health counselling. It was reported that the organisation provided 5,200 free hours of counselling per year.
The organisation also worked to help divert people with mental health issues who presented themselves at Hospital Accident and Emergency, into other services. This crisis aversion work would shortly be rolled out across the county.
Members were advised that, whilst clients were often referred by medical professionals and other agencies, 75% of their clients had contacted them directly.
The Committee was informed that SAdAS was also involved in housing matters and concentrated upon tenancy sustainment. It was reported that the average cost of evicting somebody had been calculated at £32,000. The benefit of avoiding this measure was therefore recognised and the organisation assisted by using a variety of solutions to help avoid an eviction process.
Members discussed opportunities for the Council to help promote the organisation and its work in the community, including the Council’s YouTube Channel, Heathscene, Surrey Heath Show, and through the Council’s Social Media. It was therefore agreed to ask the Council’s Media and Marketing Manager to liaise with Southern Addictions Advisory Service’s communication officer.
RESOLVED
i) to note and thank Mr Morris for his presentation; and
ii) that officers be asked to discuss appropriate methods to publicise Southern Addictions Advisory Service, as outlined above.