We work closely with people who have severe and complex problems and a tendency to disengage from services. We support people who frequently experience relapses, which can result in hospital admissions and homelessness. Mental health and other services have traditionally been delivered in settings where the individual agrees to specific tasks at a pre-arranged time.
In our Assertive outreach team, the worker goes to see the individual in his or her own environment that they feel most comfortable, whenever or wherever it is most needed and most effective.
This will then provide a more flexible approach that promotes the health and wellbeing of the individual.
Our main area of support is homelessness, drug and alcohol misuse and personality disorder. We have a high success rate in promoting independence to people who would otherwise “fall through the net” and support individuals from hostels and other areas to live independently within their own homes.
All our staff are trained in naloxone administration, along with recognising symptoms of overdose and emergency first aid. We also work closely with CAU Newlands and the city centre social work team, along with a number of homeless hostels throughout Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan.
We are also the provider of a domiciliary care and support service for people who are elderly, suffer from dementia or have a disability.
As a part of this service, we are looking at providing an overdose drug prevention service in a fully kitted ambulance within the areas of Cardiff and Vale where the homeless frequent to provide onsite support. Rather than the individual going to a needle exchange, we will be going to them, supporting a larger number of people who are in need of such services.
We are asking for your support or any information in obtaining appropriate equipment to carry out an effective voluntary service within our sector, providing a drug overdose prevention and emergency response service.
We are currently looking for the following equipment or any information on where this can be obtained: Camel lifting cushion, defibrillator and an appropriate vehicle such as an ex-ambulance.
We will also have specially trained staff providing community support in areas where people frequent in drug use. This will give the service a quicker response time in life-threatening situations and provide emergency first aid.
Our Service will include.
Whilst this service is not being used we are also looking at using the vehicle and equipment for our domiciliary care and support service for the elderly to help with falls whilst in their own home and provide transport to and from hospital and other medical appointments, further reducing the current strain on the ambulance service.
As well as providing support to people who are homeless and/or misuse drugs this will also provide support to the community. Such as…
We would also like to have this service peer-led, working alongside care and support staff from 1 Call Care and trained nurses and ambulance technicians for several reasons.
It gives peers and individuals a sense of wellbeing and putting back into the community.
They are able to provide inside information around problem areas that are most needed, know of individuals that are at a higher risk and able to provide information around targeting specific areas.
