‘... clear failing on the part of Lifeline.’
News
LIFELINE CLOSES AFTER ALMOST 50 YEARS
THE LIFELINE PROJECT, which provided services to around 80,000 people, has closed as a result of financial difficulties. Staff at the charity, which was established in 1971, were told last month that it was aiming to transfer its services to other providers.
The organisation’ s data on the Charity Commission website for the last financial year show that it had income of £ 61.8m and spending of £ 60.5m, as well as £ 3.2m of own-use assets and £ 9m of other assets. Its total liabilities were listed as £ 5.9m.
Ex-UKDPC chief executive Roger Howard resigned from Lifeline’ s board last November after raising concerns about management and governance issues. He also raised the concerns with the Charity Commission.
‘ I was reminded of the lessons arising from Kids Company – the failure of governance and leadership,’ Howard told DDN.‘ Yes, austerity is there, there have been substantial reductions in the ring-fenced grant for treatment, the constant re-tendering process is incredibly challenging – and staff did brilliantly in sustaining through that. But you have to ask the question of why is it that CGL, Turning Point, Addaction, Phoenix or any of the other organisations are coping with the sort of managerial and governance demands being placed upon them. I think that’ s where there was a pretty clear failing on the part of Lifeline. It’ s easy for the field to think that this is all the result of big bad commissioners and funding constraints, but in this circumstance I think that narrative probably needs to be challenged.’
The pressure to deliver more services against a background of financial uncertainty made it‘ vitally important that all organisations in this sector are impeccably well-run and well governed’, said WDP chair Yasmin Batliwala.‘ That is why it I look forward to the results of a full investigation into this regrettable development, which was surely preventable.’
From this month onwards, a large number of Lifeline services will be taken over by change, grow, live( CGL), with the transfer of more than 1,000 staff and 40 delivery contracts. This will allow the services‘ to continue to exist without withdrawing vital treatment and support, ensuring that minimum possible risk is caused to service users’ lives’ says CGL. Service users will be able to expect‘ the same level of treatment and care’, with referrals continuing as normal and service contact details staying the same for the time being.‘ CGL are looking to help and, quite rightly, to preserve as many services and staff as possible,’ said Howard.
‘ Our engagement with Lifeline over the last few weeks has been explicitly to make sure that service users are safeguarded, there’ s continuity of service provision and that employment is protected,’ CGL’ s executive director Mike Pattinson told DDN.‘ They approached us around what support we could offer, and then asked us about transition of services. Our engagement was at their request.’
CGL has written to Lifeline staff and aims to provide as much stability as possible in the short term, added Pattinson.‘ Clearly our explicit involvement with Lifeline staff could only start once Lifeline had communicated to their employees themselves. We’ re working to protect as much employment as we can, but we’ ve also said we do need to make sure that the services that are transferring are on a stable, sustainable financial footing – that’ s the commitment we’ ve got to make. There are a number of issues we’ re going to have to look at, but our intention is
‘... clear failing on the part of Lifeline.’
roger HowarD
to protect employment, protect service users and protect continuity of service.’ Lifeline was contacted for comment for this story. Any Lifeline staff transferring to CGL and who have questions or concerns should contact servicetransfer @ cgl. org. uk
DUAL DIAGNOSIS
AROUND 2.9M UK ADULTS now use electronic cigarettes, according to a report from ASH. The number has increased fourfold since 2012, when there were just 700,000 users, and for the first time the 1.5m ex-smokers using the devices outnumber current smokers using them. However, although most people use e- cigarettes to stop smoking there is still a great deal of‘ dual use’, the document says.‘ The message for the 1.3m vapers who still smoke is that they need to go further and switch completely,’ said ASH chief executive Deborah Arnott.‘ It’ s excellent news that the number of vapers who have quit smoking is continuing to grow, but there are still 9m smokers compared to only 1.5m vapers who don’ t smoke at all.’ Use of e-cigarettes among adults in Great Britain 2017 at ash. org. uk
WILTSHIRE WARNING
POLICE IN WILTSHIRE have issued a warning to parents following incidents in which around 20 young people received medical treatment after taking the prescription drug Xanax. All of the incidents took place within a single week in the Salisbury area, and there is increasing concern that the drug – the brand name for the potent benzodiazepine alprazolam – is gaining popularity among young people, partly as a result of its perceived celebrity associations( DDN, April, page 6). All of the young people receiving medical treatment in Wiltshire were 15-16 years old, say the police.‘ Taking any drugs which haven’ t been specifically pre- scribed for you can have serious or even fatal consequences, and we urge parents / guardians to talk to their children about the dangers,’ said Inspector Pete Sparrow.
EARLIER INTERVENTIONS
MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE TO HELP VETERANS with the underlying issues that cause problem drinking, says the charity Combat Stress, as most put off seeking help until their 60s.‘ As many as 43 per cent of veterans registered with Combat Stress have a current problem with alcohol misuse,’ said chief executive Sue Freeth.‘ We’ re all too aware that many of the veterans use alcohol or drugs to help them to manage their trauma and emotional health. More support is needed to increase awareness
FAMILY AFFAIR
among veterans of the dangers of drinking harmful levels of alcohol, to help them recognise they need help, and to assist them in engaging with specialist services sooner.’
A MAJOR NEW NATIONAL SURVEY on the impact of addiction and recovery on family members has been launched by Adfam and Sheffield Hallam University, with funding from Alcohol Research UK. The Family Life in Recovery project aims to provide insight into the experiences of family members to support and encourage others, as well as create the first evidence-based resource to recommend which support services
Prof DaviD Best are‘ urgently needed for family members of people at each different stage’ of recovery.‘ Much is known about the economic and social costs of addiction and problematic drug use, but we know very little about what happens to family members of those using or in recovery, and how they manage their own wellbeing through this incredibly stressful and challenging process,’ said project lead Professor David Best. Survey at www. surveymonkey. co. uk / r / LTKX65N
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