The £33,000 scheme, backed by Liberal Democrats on Cambridge City Council, would increase the number of successful detox programmes offered to alcoholics who cannot maintain normal out-patient treatment.
Street Outreach and Mental Health Team workers have asked for half the funding from Cambridge City Council and half from the GP consortium, Camhealth following successful working with street drinkers which has led to 30 a year treated under the detox programme. If both partners agree to funding this number could be increased to 50.
The money would pay for a Project Worker to support the Community Psychiatric Nurse.
City Councillors Catherine Smart and Tim Bick, responsible for housing and community safety respectively, are set to approve extra funding from the city council and are hoping Camhealth will follow their lead.
"Over the past two years, these community detox programmes have built an impressive track record," says Cllr Smart. "It now looks like we can capitalise further on the effectiveness of the Community Pyschiatric Nurse with a modest additional investment.
“With support from the city council we can increase treatments to at least 40 a year. If Camhealth come on board too and make this a full-time position, we could make it at least 50.
"Alongside education and training, interim accommodation and housing, these detox programmes fit into the Council's endeavours to rehabilitate those often seen on the streets, sometimes creating a nuisance by their behaviour," says Cllr Bick.
"I don't think there's a more sustainable alternative. One more individual getting their life back on track is one less potentially living on the streets: it's a win-win approach."
Rachel Everitt from the charity, Crime Reduction Initiatives, which manages the Street Outreach Team said: “"Our nurse does really positive work and secures some great outcomes. “But the time-consuming engagement and follow-up work with clients tends to hold back the capacity of his clinical role.
"With a Project Worker to support him, we think we can significantly increase the number of successful detoxes."
Subject to Council protocols, the city council will provide an immediate 12 months grant for half of the Project Worker's costs paid for from budget under-spending elsewhere.
It plans to assess the impact as part of a major review of policies to combat anti-social behaviour from the street life community in October.
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| Cllr Tim Bick, Street Outreach and Mental Health Team Manager, Rachel Everitt, Alcohol Community Psychiatric Nurse, Malcolm Stork and Cllr Catherine Smart |
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