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Drugs and Premises - The Law and Good Practice (one or two day versions)

About the course: This course looks at drugs, drug legislation and drugs work from a worker or an organizational perspective rather than a client perspective. The aim is to ensure that workers are clear about their own legal responsibilities relating to drugs, on premises, during visits and in street settings.

Appropriate for: Workers and managers in a variety of settings including residential settings, tenancy sustainment workers, outreach workers, day-centres, children's homes, and any other setting where drug-related behaviour on premises is likely to be an issue.

The course can be tailored to meet the needs of front-line workers or managers as appropriate.

Duration: One-day or two day course

One day or two day? The one-day course is very intense and allows only a limited time for discussion and exercises. It can be most successfully used with workers who require an understanding of the key legal issues and where complex situations are rarely encountered.

For workers encountering use on a regular basis, or starting a process of policy review, the two day course will be a more appropriate package.

Tailoring the course:The course can be tailored to a variety of settings including:

Hostels and supported housing settings
Floating support and supporting people set-ups
Generic young people's services
Drugs agencies, needle exchanges
Mental health settings
Residential services for children and young people
Youth work settings

Objectives: By the end of the course, participants will;

Be aware of their legal obligations under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, when encountering drug use in the course of their work
Understand other key legislation
Be aware of civil-law obligations in working with drug users
Increase confidence in dealing with drug situations
Be able to balance legal, policy and practical pressures in responding to situations

Course includes:

Key concepts in Criminal and Civil Law (two dayer)
Hierarchy of responses
Understanding the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 - classes and schedules
The implications of Wintercomfort (two dayer)
Responding to possession on site
Responding to Section 8 obligations (production, supply)
Protocols for dealing with cannabis smoking (two dayer)
The law on paraphernalia
Working off-site
Floating support
Finding and discarding drugs
Storage
Sharps bins
Antisocial behaviour Act (power to close premises) (two dayer)
Dealing with the police (two dayer)

Format: Taught section, work in pairs and groups, whole group discussion

Handouts: Copies of OHPs and legislation briefing provided to all participants; additional informattion such as drugs awareness literature can be included by request.

DANOS Modules: Unfortunately an awareness of safe legal practice is not a DANOS module requirement and so cannot be adequately mapped against the scheme. However, although not a DANOS requirement, this course is essential to provide safe and legal practice.

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