Download the full press release.

Treatment and support will be accessible to anyone affected by drug misuse through appointments, attending one of the regular drop-in sessions held Monday to Friday between 9am and 4pm or by referrals from their GP or other health professional.

The charity will be based at Metro Court, 150 High Street, West Bromwich, as well as other venues such as GP surgeries. People can contact Swanswell by calling 0845 112 0100.

Debbie Bannigan, Chief Executive of Swanswell, said: ‘We’re delighted to have this opportunity to help people in Sandwell change and be happy.

‘Swanswell’s services have been designed to be as accessible as possible to ensure everyone affected by drug misuse can access the help and support they need, when they need it.

‘We’ve been working very closely with the commissioners and existing services to ensure a smooth transition for clients, and we’re confident that they will receive a world class service.’

If you’re affected by substance misuse or know someone who is, you can get details of opening times and locations by calling Swanswell in Sandwell on 0845 112 0100 (from 1 August), or speak to your GP who will be able to refer you.

To find out more about the work of Swanswell including the services available throughout the country, visit www.swanswell.org.

Swanswell, working in partnership with West Midlands Police and Ridgacre Medical Centres, will take over the provision of adult drug services on 1st August 2011. In the meantime, adult drug services will continue to be delivered by the existing providers:

• Open Sandwell: open-access, adult drug service (Tel. 0121 612 5080)
• Anchor: structured, adult drug treatment (Tel. 0845 112 0100)
• Aquarius Family Support Services (Tel. 0121 612 5079)

DAAT and Swanswell will be working with all providers to ensure a smooth handover, which avoids disruption to our service users.

For further information, please contact Iqubal Birdi, Training and Communications Coordinator, Sandwell DAAT, Tel. 0121 612 5061, Email: iqubal.birdi@sandwell-pct.nhs.uk

Find out more…

Find out more…

Find out more…

The Skills Hub provides access to a vast library of resources on substance misuse treatment interventions. It is based on the skills framework developed by the Skills Consortium with help from the NTA and – as a result – initially focuses on drug treatment. Populating and extending the Hub is on ongoing task to which the Skills Consortium hopes the field will actively contribute.

Find out more…

The event is being held at Queen’s Square Shopping Centre, West Bromwich on Thursday 11^th June, between 10am – 4pm and all members of the public are invited to attend.

A range of partnership agencies – including drug and alcohol treatment and support services, police, street wardens, antisocial behaviour team and young people’s services – will be providing information and engaging with the public to raise awareness of what is being done in Sandwell to help tackle the harm caused by drug misuse.   

A reporter from the local press has also been invited by Sandwell DAAT on 5^th June to ‘walk-through’ the Drug Interventions Programme (i.e. DIP) and report on her experience. After being ‘drug tested’, ‘assessed’ and ‘referred’ for treatment by arrest referral and court workers, she will be given an overview of the treatment and support services available.

Click here to view Queen’s Square flyer http://www.sandwelldaat.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/tackling-drugs-flyer-coi.pdf 

The event was chaired by Allison Fraser (Chief Exec. Sandwell Council & Chair, Safer Sandwell Partnership Board) and attendees included: Bob Piper (Chair, Sandwell Mental Health & Social Care Trust), Cllr. Derek Rowley (Cabinet Member for Safer Communities), John Middleton (Dir. Public Health, Sandwell PCT), John Garrett (Exec. Dir. Adult & Community Services) and Steve Dugmore (Chief Superintendent of WMP).

Some very positive feedback was received from delegates on both the high quality clinical facilities and the services being provided from Metro Court. And as well as a lot of eating, a great deal of networking was done! The launch also drew a fair amount of media attention, with articles in the local press and an interview with Beacon radio.

Metro Court based participants putting on displays included Open Sandwell, Turning Point, Drug Concern, Anchor and Sandwell DAAT; demonstrating the  range of support available to users, their families and the community.

The launch symbolized a great, new beginning for Sandwell’s drug and alcohol treatment services and delegates looked forward to a positive future.

For further information, contact Iqubal Birdi at Sandwell DAAT on 0121 612 5061.

The move is part of a wider reconfiguration of treatment services in Sandwell. Whereas previously, drug treatment services were situated in different locations in Sandwell, they have now co-located, to provide a more integrated, ‘one-stop’, service; providing both, open-access / community-based and structured treatment services. Whilst the main treatment services will be based at Metro Court; other organisations providing satellite services from the base include housing, structured day services and support services for those affected by others’ drug use.            

The telephone number (from 5th January) for the new, open access/community-based, Tier 2 drug service (‘Open Sandwell’) at Metro Court will be: 0121 612 5080

The telephone number for Anchor, the Tier 3 structured treatment service remains the same: 0845 112 0100

The new telephone number (from 30^th January) for Drug Concern (for Carers and concerned others) will be: 0121 612 5079

A launch/open-day event organized by DAAT for the newly located services will be held on Friday 6^th March 09.