The Drug Treatment and Testing Order (DTTO) Team have been working in partnership with Minds of Recovery to deliver a bespoke four-week bite-sized recovery group to service users on a DTTO community sentence.
Mentoring Individuals for New Destinations and Support (MINDS) recovery group explores the CHIME model of recovery, recovery capitals and the language of recovery. It also looks at the six stages of change and coping mechanisms to help change the narrative of addiction and recovery. Service users were mandated to attend once a week for two hours.
The groups are set up as a conversation café, creating a safe space where service users can discuss issues relating to themselves. Roles are created within the group, from setting up the room, making tea and coffee, to helping individuals complete worksheet tasks and tidying up at the end of group sessions. In one of the groups, with the input from one of the DTTO Recovery Development Workers, one individual stepped up to volunteering, which involved connecting with the group by providing input and generating conversation on areas of focus.
Each block is pre and post evaluated to allow Minds of Recovery to evidence the impact of connection and mental wellbeing. Service users highlighted in pre-evaluation that they were anxious about attending, most had never engaged with a recovery community before, were unsure if they would engage with others in the group and almost all reported poor mental health. Post evaluation highlighted that service users felt less anxious following the intervention, there was improvements to mental health due to being able to speak freely about their situation, some also stated that they would like to continue to connect with the recovery community and attend recovery groups in the area.
“Meeting people has made me realise that I can get somewhere in life.”
“I gained interaction, knowledge, and confidence in speaking more.”
“Being there and enjoying it made a difference to me.”
“I usually stay in the house a lot, and this has seen me looking forward to coming out on a Thursday”
“I learned how to manage negative thoughts and situations.”
“It has helped me in overcoming anxiety.”
At the end of the four weeks, a short graduation ceremony takes place and service users receive a certificate for participating in the group. Following the first round of groups, more than half of the service users have expressed willingness to engage with recovery groups and support networks in their local area.
Andrew McComish, Recovery Development Worker said “The idea behind the group, was to give our service users a safe positive space, without any DTTO staff members present, to allow the service users to feel comfortable being open and honest. Building on positive relationships both with Darren and with each other. Some service users, who had voiced no interest in attending recovery groups, reported that they had enjoyed the group so much that they wanted to continue attending the MINDS group out with the mandated engagement”.
Darren Anderson, Community Coordinator, Minds of Recovery said “the feedback received highlights the positive impact the recovery group has had on these individuals. Demonstrating improvements in mental health, anxiety levels and overall well-being of the individuals. We have also managed to engage with individuals out with the group either through the individual attending our own groups in the community or through some one-to-one work and we hope this continues”.
“I have learned that there are different ways to approach recovery, and being around people has improved my confidence.”
“I’ve enjoyed being out of the house and learning new coping mechanisms with people with the same issues as me, and I’m thinking about attending more groups.”
“Being in a room with people in the same situation and the way the group was conducted felt supportive.”
“Connecting with people I normally wouldn’t see. I loved this group and everything we talked about.”
Background
A DTTO is a sentence imposed by the Courts. It focuses on drug treatment as the primary means of reducing offending behaviour. Orders last between six months and three years and combine drug treatment and a testing regime with regular court reviews, in addition to supervision.
In Ayrshire, the DTTO Team are located in North Ayrshire however they operate on a pan-Ayrshire basis. The team consists of Social Workers, Addictions Workers and Recovery Development Workers.
Local charity Minds of Recovery’s was established in 2023 operating mainly in North Ayrshire, whilst developing links in East and South Ayrshire. They deliver MINDS – the full nine-week course – to men in HMP Kilmarnock as well as co-facilitating Conversation Cafes in HMP Kilmarnock.
Minds of Recovery was established to:
- Provide or organise recreational activities with the aim of improving the conditions of life for people affected by substance misuse.
- Improve health through promotion and delivery of different recovery models, utilising the personal experiences of people and families who have been subject to the adverse effects of alcohol and drugs.
- Instil hope and motivation to individuals in their recovery journey in a safe, therapeutic environment.
- Improve education by providing human rights training and information.
- Support and signpost to services and to empower positive change
- Improve education by hosting events and information sessions with the aim of breaking down the stigma and barriers surrounding recovery and opening a path for those suffering, back into the community