Residential withdrawal service

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Adult

Residential Withdrawal Services provide alcohol and drug withdrawal to people through a community residential drug withdrawal service. The treatment emphasis is on a short length of stay.

Target group

Clients who require 24 hour supportive care to withdraw and who have inadequate supports at home or who are experiencing some type of psychological or social crisis that requires a high level of support. Where clients suffer serious physical and/or psychiatric problems a transfer may be required to a co-located hospital.

Key service requirements

• Provide structured assessments of drug consumption, health and psychological factors.
  
  
• Provide case management of clients including an Individual Treatment Plan and Discharge Plan to be developed in conjunction with the client.
  
  
• Ensure that appropriate medical and psychiatric care is readily available.
  
  
• Utilise treatment approaches based on research, experience and needs.
  
  
• Provide 24 hour supportive care.
  
  
• Provide appropriate service where relevant to carers and families of those effected by alcohol and drug use.
  
  
• Provide facilities and programs suitable for young people.

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Youth

Youth Residential Withdrawal Services provides short term intensive support, time out and drug withdrawal services to young people in residential setting.

Target group

The youth residential withdrawal service will be provided to young people, aged 12-21 years, whose use of licit and illicit drugs causes significant physical, psychological and social harm. These young people may also be experiencing concurrent issues such as family breakdown, homelessness, serious health or psychiatric problems, psychological issues, serious behavioural issues including offending, and physical safety issues.

Key service requirements

• Provide psychosocial, medical, and pharmacological support, treatment and intervention in a safe, secure and drug free environment to young people, aged 12-21 years, on a twenty-four hour basis, for the purpose of minimising harm associated with drug use and assisting with drug withdrawal.
  
  
• Address presenting physical and psychological issues associated with use of licit and illicit substances.
  
  
• Ensure that the assessment, including physical examination, and treatment of the client is youth, gender and culturally sensitive and includes motivational approaches to the engagement and retention of young persons in the program.
  
  
• Improve awareness of harm minimisation strategies within a developmentally appropriate framework and increase the capacity of the individual to maintain behaviour which reduces drug related harm.
  
  
• Operate structured programmes which will be framed to ensure accessibility to young people, irrespective of cultural, gender, developmental and other difference.
  
  
• Provide information and referral services for clients' carers, families and significant others, and where appropriate, involve these significant others in the treatment of the young person.
  
  
• Ensure that procedures are put in place to appropriately manage the varying needs of the cohorts within the target group, including approaches such as dealing with the age range through alternating segmented use of the facility.
  
  
• Ensure that the client will have an individual treatment plan, based on assessment, identification of risk factors and the setting of goals and objectives to increase protective factors.
  
  
• Ensure that the service will be situated in a community-based house of domestic aspect, centrally located, preferably close to recreational facilities and easily accessible by public transport.
  
  
• Ensure that the service is located close to an acute hospital and a child and adolescent mental health service to ensure access to emergency back up and appropriate specialist treatment and support.
  
  
• Ensure the development of appropriate procedures for the referral, assessment, intake and exit of clients using the service.
  
  
• Facilitate processes for longer term issues to be addressed through inter-service linkages, supported referral and discharge planning.

More information

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