FDAP closes and transfers functions to SMMGP

Carole Sharma, a chief executive with years of experience in the health and substance misuse fields

The Federation of Drug and Alcohol Professionals (FDAP) is to close at the end of this month, it has been announced. In a statement released on 19 January, its board said that the ‘difficult decision’ had been made that it was ‘impossible to continue’. However from 1 February, member interests would be looked after by Substance Misuse Management in General Practice (SMMGP), who would continue the function of providing accreditation and CPD support.

‘We are confident that the future of our members is in good hands with SMMGP who have a long standing history of supporting good practice in drug and alcohol treatment, as well as the experience and reputation to provide accreditation for people working in the field,’ said FDAP board’s co-chairs Debbie Lindsey and Vic Hogg.

Chief executive Carole Sharma, who has worked in close partnership with many organisations in the field, including DDN, will leave her post on 31 January. DDN extended gratitude to her for her support, including expertly chairing sessions at the National Service User Involvement Conference, and wished her well for the future.

FDAP board’s statement is in full below:

FEDERATION OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL PROFESSIONALS: IMPORTANT NOTICE
This notice comes to you on behalf of the Board of the Federation of Drug and Alcohol Professionals (FDAP), to advise you of important changes that are taking place, namely that the company is to close with effect from 31 January 2017.

As from 1 February 2017 the function of providing accreditation and CPD support for FDAP members will be moving to SMMGP (Substance Misuse Management in General Practice) who will continue this work.

The decision to close FDAP has not been an easy one and we feel sure you will understand that the Board would not have come to the difficult decision to close the company were it not for the fact that it is impossible to continue.

In conveying this news, FDAP’s Board and Chief Executive would like to extend their warm and very sincere thanks to you, and all other partners and stakeholders, for your tremendous support over many years in working with FDAP to achieve our principal objective of helping to improve standards of practice across the substance use sector.

We are confident that the future of our members is in good hands with SMMGP who have a long standing history of supporting good practice in drug and alcohol treatment, as well as the experience and reputation to provide accreditation for people working in the field. SMMGP will be contacting you in the near future.

If there is anything contained in this message which you would like to discuss, please contact the Chief Executive, Carole Sharma [carole@fdap.org.uk] who will be continuing in that role on a part time basis until 31 January 2017.

Debbie Lindsey, Vic Hogg, Co-Chairs, FDAP Board