JSNA support pack for drug and alcohol commissioners

A JSNA support pack for substance misuse commissioners has been published by the National Treatment Agency.

From April 2012, Public Health will sit within Local Authorities and will be responsible for the commissioning of drug and alcohol services. It is intended that there will be a more integrated approach to treatment with a strong focus on recovery.

The overarching principle is that "drug and alcohol commissioners work closely with all relevant partners to commission services based on outcomes". Pilots into Payment by Results for alcohol treatment and drugs are also underway.

There are 4 main tenets to the new JSNA support pack.

1. Improved access both to early, preventative interventions and to treatment
2. Treatment should be recovery-orientated, effective and protective
3. Treatment should deliver recovery-orientated outcomes
4. Sustained recovery is key.

The pack is intended to support the development of a local needs assessment, planning and delivery of treatment services prior to the establishment of Public Health England. Although the focus of the document is mainly on commissioning for drug use, the basic principles apply for commissioning services for dependent alcohol users.

Full NICE alcohol quality standards and commissioning guidance is set out for alcohol treatment services.