Definition – A supportive relationship where an individual has direct or indirect experience of drug and alcohol problems maybe specifically recruited on a paid or voluntary basis to provide support and guidance to peers. Peer support can also include less formal arrangements where shared experience is the basis of the support (e.g. as part of a social group).

Where peer support programmes are available, staff should provide information on access to service users, and support access where service users express an interest in using this type of support.

Definition – Staff provide service user with information about self help groups. If a service user has expressed an interest in attending a group then the staff member should facilitate initial contact with the group, e.g. arranging transportation to group, attending initial session with service user.

Definition – Staff have assessed that there is a need for on-going support as part of the comprehensive assessment process or as part of their on-going review. Under each heading further information is provided to what type of support can be recorded here.

•     Family support (i.e. arranging family support for the family in their own right or family support that includes the individual in treatment)

•     Parenting support (i.e. referral to a parental support worker)

•     Financial support (i.e. referral to benefit / debt advisor)

•     Housing support (i.e. referral to a housing agency for specialist housing support [this can include a range of activities which are designed to allow an individual to maintain their accommodation or deal with an urgent housing need].

•     Employment support (i.e. include specific specialised employment support actions by the treatment service, and /or active referral to an agency for specialist employment support).

•     Education & training support (i.e. include specific specialised education / training support actions by the treatment service, and /or active referral to an agency for specialist education / training support).

•     Supported work projects (referral to a service providing paid employment positions where the employee receives significant on-going support to attend and perform duties.

Definition - Following completion of treatment there is an agreement for periodic contact between a service provider and the former participant in the structured treatment phase of support. The support is initiated by the service provider.

Support which is provided to clients who have completed their substance misuse treatment in order to prevent relapse. This can be defined as:

•     Evidence based psychosocial interventions to support substance misuse relapse prevention (these are delivered following completion of structured substance misuse treatment. These interventions have a specific substance misuse focus and are delivered within substance misuse services)

•     Evidence based mental health focused psychosocial interventions to support continued recovery. (Evidence based psychosocial interventions for common mental health problems that support continued recovery by focusing on improving psychosocial well-being that might otherwise increase the likelihood of relapse to substance use. These are delivered following completion of structured substance misuse treatment and maybe delivered outside substance misuse services but referred from substance misuse services)

This indicates whether the client is involved in an activity that is designed to divert the client away from substance use.

This activity should be sustained and part of a wider programme of recovery rather than a one off session.