How many chances do we give to engage?
A perspective from Ireland gives us fresh insight into diverting people away from the criminal justice system (page 6). What are the practicalities of implementing a health-led approach? How many ‘chances’ do we give people to engage with health services? How quickly can we join up people with screening and interventions?
How can we make sure resources aren’t pulled away from others who need them? And how can we judge these schemes on the broader definition of success – including engagement with the wider range of support services including housing – rather than just the referral numbers? These questions preoccupy us up and down the country – so why are we so cautious about keeping health and wellbeing at the centre of drug policy, justice policy, rehabilitation policy?
One thing we can be sure of – keeping respect, empathy and kindness at the forefront of services brings culture change from the grassroots. So while we wait for a stronger steer from Westminster, let’s keep sharing what works well.
Read the November issue as an online magazine (you can also download it as a PDF from the online magazine)
Please send your letters and comment to claire@cjwellings.com
Claire Brown, editor