We support those in need of a harm minimisation approach, within a philosophy of supporting every individual to maximise their opportunities. When people are already involved in behaviour that harms them or others around them, everything should be done to contain and reduce those harms.
We are then able to engage people in greatest need with a range of alternatives to harmful drug use. If we fail to engage with the most marginal groups and individuals at an early stage, everyone loses out, including the economy.
We support those who aspire to achieve healthier lives and contribute to the well being of others and of their communities. We do that by opening doors to opportunity, travelling alongside people with hope and support, and ensuring we have the proper partnerships and resources in place. We engage with communities, parents and carers, and work closely with other frontline agencies and community groups towards common goals.
Lifeline works across a very diverse range of different localities across the country. This shapes our organisation in very important respects. It teaches us about diversity itself and about our role as facilitators. It enables us to share knowledge and experiences of what has worked elsewhere. It adds breadth and range to our workforce. It helps us become ever more focused on the importance of the immediate impact of drug use on real people, and on the outcomes that can make a difference.
Our services include a diverse range of alcohol and drug services including harm minimisation, needle exchange, drop-in, day programmes, prescribing and shared care, abstinence-orientated work, community-based detoxification support services, community development programmes, recovery partnerships, criminal justice/prison initiatives, family work, employability initiatives and services for young people. Geographically these services are spread across Yorkshire and Humber, the North East, the North West, Midlands and London, in diverse towns, cities and villages. Continued...
Lifeline has four key themes underpinning its work today and guiding us into the future. These shape and support our work in addressing the current and future needs of service users, commissioners and localities. They are:
We continue to develop inclusive, competitive and forward-looking services that include stakeholders at all levels. Working closely with commissioners, we seek to place the service user and community member at the centre of our work. This year we have increased our delivery to people using alcohol, including targeted work with young people, and have collaborated on significant work with alcohol related offenders alongside YHIP [Yorkshire and Humberside Improvement Partnership].
Our robust corporate governance structures have supported a significant strengthening of our delivery frameworks and support systems. We have recently restructured and enhanced our Clinical Governance framework [see Governance section]. We run a continuous safeguarding policy development group. These frameworks are scrutinised at the highest level of the organisation and are subject to internal and external monitoring and reporting.
In the course of the last year we have made significant progress in further engaging our staff in being the best they can be as our delivery frontline. We have pulled staff together against a growing number of development areas including criminal justice, recovery, quality and Clinical Governance. We continue to establish new training programmes. We believe that our service users deserve the best support available to move away from problem drug and alcohol use, to stay safe and out of prison, and receive optimum support when in distress or chaos.
Lifeline believes in sharing its knowledge and expertise with our workforce, and in learning from and with our stakeholders including the general public. We aim to participate in sharing knowledge and information that impacts on health and wellbeing. We also aim to make practical and real progress without ignoring the complex problems substance use poses for individuals and society. Our Publications and online discussion [FEAD] reflect our position that no one modality fits everyone.