Event Recording: watch it back. Why HMPPS is moving towards Recovery-Oriented Systems to tackle drug and alcohol use
Mike Wheatley, Head of Drug and Alcohol Group in HMPPS, reflects on our hugely successful, interesting and informative event on 5th March.
Mike Wheatley
Head of Drug and Alcohol Group,
HMPPS
I’d like to say a big thank you to our keynote speaker Professor David Best, Ph.d. and our expert panel of Prison and Probation Recovery, Heath and Justice, and Lived Experience leads.
We set out to:
- engage our staff and partners across the criminal justice sector and beyond, in how HMPPS is transforming its approach to tackling drug and alcohol use within the criminal justice system, delving deeper into the issues and supporting evidence, and
- outline how a recovery-oriented system of care offered a comprehensive, person-centred, and sustainable way to address drug and problematic alcohol use, supporting individuals to build meaningful, healthy lives while reducing reoffending and harm to society.
It didn’t disappoint.
Thank you to our audience for your support and participation. Numbers exceeded our expectations with nearly 600 attending from across prisons, probation, youth justice, health, recovery service providers, local authorities, police and other Government Departments. There was very positive feedback on how the event had raised awareness and understanding and more importantly, practical examples of how it had inspired colleagues to apply their learning to their work.
From the examples and the insights explored in the event, and the audience feedback, I’m positive and hopeful that that we can work together to create a recovery-oriented system.
It will take time to build, but we have started on a recovery-oriented journey that will lead us to more positive benefits and practice outcomes.