'Short-term funding' hurting alcohol and drugs services in Inverclyde, board hears
THE chair of the body that oversees health and social care services in Inverclyde has called for an end to the 'short-term approach' to funding of lifeline services aimed at tackling the devastating impact of alcohol and drug addiction.
David Gould was speaking as the Inverclyde Integrated Joint Board (IJB) scrutinised a new five-year strategy to reduce drug and alcohol deaths in the area.
Mr Gould said the funding of projects on a 'non-recurring' basis – usually only for fixed periods of two years – made tackling the high number of deaths in Inverclyde a constant challenge.
He told the IJB's latest meeting: "In terms of the work we are doing, with funding not being received on a recurring basis, how much of a challenge is that for us, and what impact does that have on our ability to deliver the alcohol and drug strategy?
'It would seem that that as we put the alcohol and drug strategy in place we are working with one hand tied behind our back if we can't retain or recruit employees because funding is for two years only."
Delivery of alcohol and drugs services in Inverclyde is being hit by the lack of recurring funding to deliver support in the area, the local IJB heard. (Image: PA) A separate report to the IJB's audit committee highlighted that the issue is also affecting staff recruitment, with posts being advertised on a 'fixed-term' rather than permanent basis.
Maxine Ward, head of addiction services at the Inverclyde health and social care partnership (HSCP), said: "It is a significant challenge for us. With two years of funding it is very difficult to recruit.
"We have two choices: we can either commission our third sector partners to deliver services, or we can create posts for two years within the HSCP, which is difficult to do.
"It could take 12 months to get someone in post then we have to ask for special permissions to hold on to that funding.
"It absolutely impacts on the way we design services and if we had the budget we have got on a recurring basis I would be doing things very differently."
David Gould chairs the Inverclyde integrated joint board. (Image: contributed) Head of mental health services Katrina Phillips said: "What we get back from the Scottish Government is there is no availability at this moment in time to make that recurring.
"They made mental health outcomes recurring but we haven't had that yet for alcohol and drug services."
Ms Ward added: "We know locally what our challenges are, and we are often different to neighbouring authorities.
READ MORE: Government slammed over efforts to tackle Inverclyde's grim drugs death toll
"But we are limited in terms of how we use some of that funding.
"As it stands we are forced into a 'square peg, round hole' scenario. We can't tailor the services specifically, we can't move y to x if we need x more."
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: 'We provide annual funding of £112 million to local Alcohol and Drug Partnerships for treatment and support services, with Greater Glasgow and Clyde due to receive £28 million this year.
'To respond to requests for more certainty over funding, particularly in relation to sustainability of services and staffing, we baselined a further £19 million of Alcohol and Drugs Partnership funding and issued a letter of comfort to all ADPs confirming 2025-26 funding to help them plan ahead.
'It is for each ADP to take forward the provision and commissioning of services, based on an assessment of local need.'
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