Issue - meetings

            The Board received an update report and a presentation on the work carried out across the partnership in the Borough to tackle alcohol and substance misuse. The report included information on the:

·         Trading Standards North West Young Persons’ Alcohol Survey which was carried out every two years and had taken place in January to April 2017;

·         Action plan developed to address Halton’s opiate successful completion rate, which was performing below the Change Grow Live (CGL) (Drug and alcohol service) and Public Health England national averages;

·         The number of those clients who had received the flu vaccination;

·         Mental Health: Following publication in November 2016 of Nice Guidance ‘Coexisting severe mental illness and substance misuse: community health and social care services’, there had been an agreement to increase interagency work between mental health and substance misuse services in Halton with an emphasis being placed on all teams being flexible and problem solving together;

·         The success of The Work Company: During this year the Work Company had supported 73 individuals affected by substance misuse to address their education, training and employment needs. Since April 2016, The Work Company had supported individuals in gaining 114 qualifications. During the same period, 3 individuals commence voluntary work, with 29 individuals gaining employment within various sectors;

·         Progress against related targets to reduce the harm from alcohol and substance misuse; and

·         School and college based alcohol education programmes.

            In addition, the Board noted work involving the establishment of the Cheshire and Merseyside Five Year Forward View Alcohol Board and the Drink Less Enjoy More Campaign across Cheshire and Merseyside.

RESOLVED: That the report be noted.