Alcohol, drugs and substance misuse advice from BDAT
Based within Bedfordshire County Council and chaired by the Director of Social Services, B:DAT serves the local authority area of Bedfordshire while a seperate Drug Action Team serves Luton (Luton Drug & Alcohol Partnership).
B:DAT is responsible for local delivery of the Government's National Strategy 'Tackling Drugs - Changing Lives' by co-ordinating local substance misuse services and devising, implementing and monitoring action plans that respond to local issues.
In order to do this, B:DAT brings together a host of statutory, non-statutory and voluntary sector agencies and co-ordintates a joined-up approach to tackling local substance misuse issues.
These agencies include the County Council (with representation from Social Services and Education), Borough and District Councils (representing Community Safety, Environmental and Housing), Youth Offending Service, Health Authority, Primary Care Trusts, Police, Probation Service and the Prison Service. The many voluntary sector organisations who are represented on B:DAT are responsible for carrying out invaluable work in the community towards tackling substance misuse issues.
Full Time Officers
Barbara O'Rourke – Head of DAT and Commissioning, responsible for overseeing the strategic work of the DAT and commissioning treatment services
Rachel Volpe – DIP and Communities Officer, responsible for co-ordinating multi-agency work within the Criminal Justice System and Communities
James Dove – Young People’s Commissioning Manager, responsible for commissioning young people services and co-ordinating multi-agency work to enable local young people to achieve the full potential in society
Derrick Morgan - Data & Information Officer, responsible for co-ordinating the performance management of each area of B:DAT's work and reporting to Government Office
Melissa Jennings - Administration Support, responsible for keeping everything (and everyone) together.
The Way We Work
Every 3 years B:DAT produce a strategy, with priorities identified through local consultation with service users and communities, that contribute to the Government's National Strategy and link in with other relevant local strategies. Targets are set annually within this strategic framework through an action plan for each area of the national strategy:
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Young People
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Communities
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Treatment
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Availability
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Criminal Justice
In order to ensure these targets are met, B:DAT has three sub-groups made up of representatives from agencies responsible for delivering each area of the Action Plan. The sub-groups monitor progress and report back to the full B:DAT Partnership Board on a regular basis.
B:DAT are now building on its previous successes and tackling future challenges. We committed to working with Bedfordshire's communities to strengthen their ability to tackle substance misuse themselves through developing local solutions to local problems as well as making sure individuals and families can access the support that's right for them, when and where they need it.
There is much work to be done but by working in partnership we can tackle drugs and change lives in Bedfordshire.
Bedfordshire Drugs Strategy 2005-08
In consultation with local service users, communities, and workers, B:DAT have published the Bedfordshire Drug Strategy 2005-08. The priorities reflect what's working well, and what needs to be done, as part of working together with statutory organisations, voluntary agencies, and the community, to create safer, stonger communities in Bedfordshire.
The strategy involves all the key partners within the Bedfordshire Drug & Alcohol Action Team and sets specific actions and targets for each area of the Government's National Strategy "Tackling Drugs - Changing Lives". You can find out more the national strategy by visiting www.drugs.gov.uk|
Download your copy of the B:DAT "Bedfordshire Drugs Strategy 2005-08 Executive Summary|". For a copy of the full Strategy please contact:
Melissa Jennings, Tel: 01234 228036