A service that has helped hundreds of people in Derbyshire overcome problems with drugs and alcohol has had its contract renewed.

Derbyshire Recovery Partnership has been awarded a three-year contract by Derbyshire County Council to continue providing a drug and alcohol treatment service with the option of extending for another seven years.

The partnership brings together the skills of Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, local charity Derbyshire Addictions Advice Service, national charity Phoenix Futures and education specialist Intuitive Thinking Skills, and has been chosen once again by Derbyshire County Council to provide an innovative, recovery-focused service.

From 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2027, it will continue to offer a range of treatments and support all ‘under one roof’, avoiding the need for individuals to be re-referred or transferred between services. Derbyshire residents will be able to refer themselves into the service, with one phone call being all it takes to request either drug or alcohol support. 

Helen Pooley, Area Service Manager for Substance Misuse at Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, said: “The Derbyshire Recovery Partnership has a recovery-focused approach which aims to help people to be safer if they are using drugs or alcohol, aiming to promote long-term benefits to health and wellbeing and long-term recovery.

“Service users can benefit from specialist drug or alcohol treatment, advice and support including one-to-one keyworking; prescribing interventions; harm reduction advice and health screening; counselling and access to inpatient detoxification or residential rehabilitation. Our service is specifically designed to deliver recovery focussed individualised care to support positive changes in health and wellbeing.”

The partnership will also offer signposting and liaising with other support services to help with benefits advice, housing, employment or debt issues and signposting to other health and social services to support health and wellbeing.

Interim Executive Director of Operations at the Trust Lee Doyle said: “I’m delighted that the DRP has had its contract extended so that we can continue to support people across Derbyshire who need our help.”

Derbyshire County Council has awarded the contract to Derbyshire Recovery Partnership for three years, with an option to extend the contract for a further three years and then another four years after that. Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust will serve as the lead organisation and will have ultimate responsibility for the service.  

Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Communities, Councillor Carol Hart said: “We are pleased to be continuing to fund the Derbyshire Recovery Partnership as the work that they do is invaluable in helping people overcome addiction.

“The partnership provides the ongoing support and links into other services that are so vital in ensuring long term, successful recovery.” 

Anyone wishing to access Derbyshire Recovery Partnership for support with drug or alcohol issues can call either 0845 308 4010 or 01246 206514, or email info@derbyshirerecoverypartnership.co.uk  

More information can be found at: www.derbyshirerecoverypartnership.co.uk