Rough Sleeper, Drug and Alcohol Team

As part of the national government's ambition to end rough sleeping and improve pathways into treatment for people sleeping rough who use alcohol and/or drugs; a Rough Sleeping Drug & Alcohol Team (RSDAT) has been established and previously commissioned by Southampton City Council (SCC) using government grant funding.

This targeted funding builds on previous funding provided to Local Authorities to support rough sleeper's access to accommodation and provides an opportunity to provide additional resources in the areas which had been identified as having high numbers of people needing intensive support with both drug & alcohol treatment and with maintaining accommodation.

The funding provides an opportunity to ensure that there is continued proactive engagement, and any initial substance use disorder (SUD) treatment contact is sustained and capitalised on.

It will also enable specialist Rough Sleepers Drug and Alcohol workers, including Complex Needs Navigators, a Non-Medical Prescriber and an Assertive Outreach Nurse, to offer intensive support, clinical treatment and psychological approaches, including Trauma Informed Care for the street homeless population. Service users will be supported to complete assessments, start receiving appropriate treatment at the earliest opportunity and capitalise on initial signs of motivation to address their issues. The funding will also help address some identified gaps around access to treatment services, peer mentors and women working on the streets selling sex.