The provision of a mental health practitioner within a young people's substance misuse clinical team

Abstract

Evidence suggests that substance misuse service practitioners attempt to work with dual diagnosis patients but lack the skills and knowledge to address both health problems. This study explores the impact of placing a mental health consultant within a substance misuse community team on knowledge, confidence and willingness to work with dual diagnosis patients. A participant action research method was used to explore the role and effect of the mental health consultant on the effectiveness of the practitioners’ work with dual diagnosis patients. The presence of the mental health specialist demonstrated increased confidence, willingness and ability to work effectively with dual diagnosis patients accessing the service. The conditions required for success for this type of service provision is discussed. The accessibility of the consultant via clinical supervision and training impacted on the confidence of the practitioners and increased the level of complexity at which the practitioners were prepared to work with this client group. It is suggested that this supervisory role could model approaches to joint-working between mental health and substance misuse services for better management of dual diagnosis patients.

Keywords:

• dual diagnosis
• substance misuse
• mental health
• clinical supervision
• action research

Acknowledgement

This project was supported by Staffordshire Drug and Alcohol Action Team.