Alcohol Help

The morning after the night before, the last thing you want is some one knocking loudly on your door, waking you up and asking if you’ve got a problem with alcohol- but chances are, if you get arrested and end up in the cells at Gateshead police station over this festive season - that’s exactly what will happen.

For the last six months, Elaine Corrigan, a registered mental health nurse with a wealth of experience in drug and alcohol intervention work, has been working as the Criminal Justice Alcohol Caseworker in the custody suite of Gateshead Police Station. It’s her job to help people whose criminal activity may have been as a result of them misusing alcohol - and there’ll not be much let up for her and potential cell mates over the Christmas and New year period.

Elaine spends most mornings each week at Gateshead Police Station, working as part of a team that also tests people for drug misuse if they have committed a trigger offence.

The new post was created by Gateshead Council and Gateshead Primary Care Trust’s drug and alcohol team ‘Twenty Four: 7′ to identify the links between offending behaviour and alcohol. The position, funded through the ‘Safer Communities’ arm of the Gateshead Local Area Agreement, sits within the Criminal Justice Intervention Team (CJIT).

The need for the post was identified after it was recognised that while there were a high number of drug intervention workers within the CJIT identifying individuals with significant alcohol issues, there was no dedicated caseworker for alcohol misuse.

Elaine offers the people she meets advice and support on a one to one basis and, as she discovers what their needs are, can refer them on to other organisations who can help meet their needs. Part of the services she can help people access includes a community based or in patient based detox as well as counselling and talking therapies to assess why they misuse alcohol, relaxation and anger management.

"The people I meet in custody often have significant problems relating to their alcohol misuse. Engaging with these individuals provides an opportunity to offer a package of care, taking into account issues such as housing, family relationships etc., " explained Elaine

"Depending on the outcome of the assessment I am able to see people on a regular basis to work through a care plan or refer on to a more appropriate service. In addition, I provide information and advice and brief intervention for less problematic alcohol users.

"It’s a long process and it’s about supporting people through a big change in their lives and building up a relationship built on trust."

As a registered mental health nurse Elaine is also fully qualified to work on a dual diagnosis basis, which means she can work with those who have mental health issues as well as alcohol-related problems. Skills that bring added value to her new role.

She attends regular meetings with Gateshead’s anti-social behaviour panel and works closely with drug intervention workers and the prolific and priority offenders scheme.

Gill McGill, Drug Intervention Programme manager said: "We are delighted to have Elaine on board. The need to address alcohol issues in this area of work has long been recognised and this provides an exciting opportunity to further develop the work carried out by Gateshead CJIT, by being able to offer a direct referral to a dedicated criminal justice alcohol caseworker."

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