AB2.2012 Support individuals who misuse substances

Overview

For this standard you need to support individuals who misuse substances by enabling them to adopt safe practices, providing care and support following an episode of substance use and supporting individuals' efforts to reduce harm or cease substance use. Substances would include alcohol, opiates, hallucinogenics, amphetamines, cannabis, prescribed medication, solvents and other volatile substances; their use may be experimental, recreational or dependent. Users of this standard will need to ensure that practice reflects up to date information and policies. Version No 2

Knowledge and Understanding

You need to know and understand:

substance use which is legal and illegal, including the illegal use of prescribed drugs, agency policy and how this affects the role of the worker
legislation relating to the supply and use of substances, and to particular individual groups and how these affect your role and responsibilities
legislation and agency policies and guidelines on the storage and use of substances and your role in relation to these
resources within and outside the agency to assist the substance user to control or minimise the risks of the use
the different specialist advice/therapy agencies and national/local support networks involved in supporting substance users
resources within and outside the agency available to assist the substance user to cease or reduce use, including the different specialist advice/therapy agencies and national/local support networks involved in supporting substance users
your role and responsibilities in relation to the individual and how these should affect any relationship between you and the individual
the different forms of substance which individuals might use, how they are used and their likely effects
the ways in which individuals may combine substances and the different effects which might arise from this
the risks involved with substance misuse both in the short and the long term
different forms of cleanliness and the links between forms of cleanliness and harm reduction strategies
the range of activities that may be affected by substance misuse and harm-reduction strategies that can be adopted in relation to these
harm reduction strategies, how and why these may differ from individual to individual
the range of safer sex practices and how individuals can be encouraged to use these
hazardous materials and equipment, nature of the hazard that they create and safe methods for disposing of them
the indicators of substance misuse the different forms of substance which individuals might use and their likely effects
the risks involved with substance misuse both in the short and the long term
the indicators of pain, discomfort and that the effects of the substance are posing a significant threat to an individual's well-being and the action that should be taken in relation to each
the range of after-effects of substance misuse and what the needs of the individual may be following substance use
how views of substance misuse may differ
your role in the environment and the boundaries and limits of that role
the impact which your feelings may have on the support which can be effectively offered to the individual
factors that influence individuals to use substances and how these may be inter-related or combined
reasons why individuals decide to reduce or cease substance use
the range of potential effects of reducing or ceasing substance use upon relationships, life-style, recreation and leisure activities, physical and emotional health
the type of difficulties that are likely to arise in attempting to cease or reduce substance use and strategies and methods for alleviating them
the effects which your own beliefs and feelings about substance misuse may have on your behaviour and why it is important to work with individuals in a supporting and non-judgmental manner, even when your own beliefs conflict with the individual's actions
methods of moving and handling individuals which are likely to be the safest for you and the individual and why individuals should be moved only when necessary
emergency aid for situations where the substance causes a health emergency
methods of supporting individuals at times when they have misused substances
how to assist individuals to make realistic assessments of their progress and how you can offer views in a supportive manner
ways of supporting individuals who are seeking to reduce or cease substance use
the importance of acknowledging and dealing with your own feelings in relation to the substance misuse concerned
why the language used should be consistent with the individual's own form of expression and strategies that can be used to maximise the possibility of information being heard and understood
why the individual should be supported to talk through their circumstances and history of substance misuse
why the individual should be supported to contact others for further advice and assistance and the forms which such support and assistance might take
methods of making one's presence and availability obvious to the individual without attracting aggressiveness
why the individual should be supported to describe any pain or discomfort which they are experiencing
the importance of assisting individuals to meet their own needs and requirements after the effects of the substance have worn off and ways of doing this
why information should be reported and recorded
why it is important to review with individuals their reasons for deciding to reduce or cease substance use and the motivational effects of this
the importance of acknowledging individual's rights in making decisions regarding their use of substances
individuals' rights in making decisions regarding their health, including their right to ignore advice

Performance Criteria

You must be able to:

ensure your communication with individuals about substance misuse and its associated risks is at a time and in a manner likely to maximise the likelihood of the individual’s understanding
explain the risks to individuals from the substances taken and the methods used in a manner, and at a level and pace appropriate to them
offer individuals guidance, support and advice on ways in which methods of substance misuse and activities affected by it can be practised more safely
support individuals who wish to use substances, equipment and other materials to do so in a manner which is appropriate and consistent with their right of choice
support and encourage individuals to dispose of hazardous materials and equipment in a safe manner and place immediately after use
encourage and support individuals to discuss their circumstances and history of substance misuse and use this information to plan and provide appropriate support and assistance
give support and assistance to contact people who can help where individuals ask for further information and advice which is beyond your role
ensure your actions to support individuals who have used substances are consistent with your agreed role and agency policies and procedures
make individuals aware that you are available and willing to help
ensure your interaction with individuals is in a manner which recognises each individual's needs and rights
ensure your actions to support individuals are appropriate to the substance used, the effect which the substance has had and the condition of the individual
encourage individuals to describe any pain or discomfort which they are experiencing
move and handle individuals with the minimum of discomfort and only where it is necessary for their safety
request further support and assistance needed to help the individual without delay
make the environment as safe as possible and remove all dangerous substances and materials
support and enable individuals to meet their needs and requirements after the effects of the substance have worn off
clearly and accurately report information about episodes of substance misuse to an appropriate person and record it in the required format
encourage individuals who have made a commitment to reduce substance use to review their reasons for doing so
identify and explore the effects of the individual's choice on their daily life and any difficulties which they might have in a supportive manner
identify accurately and discuss in detail strategies and methods for alleviating difficulties encountered by the individual
communicate with individuals in a manner, and at a level and pace, appropriate to them
offer support to individuals in a manner which respects their individual rights and choice, and is appropriate to their needs and is realistic within the limits of the resources available
give appropriate support and assistance to contact people who can help individuals who ask for advice and support which is beyond your role
assist individuals to review their progress in reducing substance use, realistically assess their achievements and identify opportunities for improvement
accurately and fully record the results of discussions on progress and any proposals for changes and pass these promptly to an appropriate person
acknowledge and manage your own feelings about the individual's progress or lack of this in such a way as to minimise their impact on the support provided

Additional Information

This standard links with the following dimension within the NHS Knowledge and Skills Framework (October 2004): Dimension: HWB4 Enablement to address health and wellbeing needs