Transcript Paul Conlon - European Federation of Therapeutic Communities

Repackaging Coolmine:
Introducing Change into a
Traditional TC
Paul Conlon,
Chief Executive, Coolmine TC, Dublin,
Ireland.
Contents
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Brief history of Coolmine
Drugs policy in Ireland
The strategic challenges
Development of -‘A pioneering record-A dynamic
Future’
Implementation
Service developments
Networking
New funding
The next steps
Coolmine – EFTC - June 2007
Brief History of Coolmine
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Established 1973, - Ireland’s first voluntary
treatment agency
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Phoenix House (London)
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Daytop Village (New York) from 1979
onwards
Coolmine – EFTC - June 2007
Coolmine in the ‘Opiate Epidemic’
Years (1980-1985)
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Prior to 1980, Dublin had no significant heroin use
and virtually no injecting drug use
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TC’s abstinence model was accepted as only valid
treatment model
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Statutory funding increased and Coolmine
expanded its services and facilities significantly
Coolmine – EFTC - June 2007
Coolmine in the Era of Harm
Reduction
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1982: Ana Liffey Drug Project, Ireland’s first
harm reduction agency
1989 Merchant’s Quay Project
Coolmine's monopoly of statutory funding for
voluntary service provision was broken
Difficult financial period in the late-1980 /
early-1990s
Coolmine – EFTC - June 2007
Drugs Policy Developments in Ireland
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Late 1980s/early 1990s: Gradual introduction of
Harm Reduction
1996 the Govt. published ‘The First Report of the
Ministerial Task Force on Measures to Reduce the
Demand fo Drugs’ which lead to the creatation of
formal drug policy structures
Building on Experience, Irelands National Drugs
Strategy 2001 to 2008
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Focus on public health and harm reduction
2005 Review recommended new focus on
rehabilitation.
Coolmine – EFTC - June 2007
Coolmine in the New Millennium
(2004)
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Some useful and productive links with European
TCs and Local Irish Structures had been established
2002 Evaluation had been completed by Rowdy
Yates & Salvatore Raimo
Some changes had been made however structures
and style still largely based on Daytop Model with
considerable use of confrontation
Numbers low
‘On the street’ image quite negative
Funding in decline
Coolmine – EFTC - June 2007
Repackaging Coolmine
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2004 appointment of new chief executive
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Public policy environment:
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Brought considerable experience and track record in
service development
Board’s interest in adapting to the changes in the
external policy environment
Shifted significantly towards harm reduction
Coolmine needed to rethink its approach to treatment
Strategy Review due in 2005 signalling a renewed
emphasis on rehabilitation.
Right timing for new approach
Coolmine – EFTC - June 2007
The Strategic Challenges
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Improve reputation; attract and retain new
clients
Avoid demoralizing committed and
experienced staff
Identify and preserve core values while
changing practices and traditions out of
keeping with the new policy environment
Persuade the policy-making community and
service funders that the TC model still had a
valuable contribution to make
Coolmine – EFTC - June 2007
Actions Taken
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Board expanded - wide spectrum of interests and
experiences
New staff recruited, pay review & significant
investment in training for all
Following extensive consultation -‘A pioneering
record-A dynamic Future’ was launched.
Greater engagement by Coolmine in the wider policy
system
Full engagement with national, regional and local
implementation structures
Coolmine – EFTC - June 2007
Development of Strategic Plan
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Extensive consultation process in 2005
facilitated by external change management
consultant
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Current clients and past graduates
Drug users in other services
All staff, management and board members
Peer organisations
Current and potential funders
Steering group established to prepare drafts
for approval
Coolmine – EFTC - June 2007
Identification of Core Values
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Core value of the TC is value of abstinence as a treatment
goal
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Self help and mutual help are pillars of the therapeutic
process
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Programme needed to be structured and challenging
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Length-of-stay needed to be sufficient to enable change to
take place
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Drug-free lifestyle does not mean that clients must all be drugfree on admission to TC programmes
Coolmine – EFTC - June 2007
Key Service Objectives
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Renewed emphasis on assertive outreach
Introduction of stabilisation and detox facilities
Residential services - evidence based
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Length of programme
Quality of counselling
Professional and with 24/7 staffing
Reintegration programme
Dedicated aftercare services - including community
based housing.
Coolmine – EFTC - June 2007
Progress to date
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New stabilisation day programme from Jan. 2006
Community detox service for clients with facilitation
within residentials
24/7 staff in our residentials, April and Sept 2006
Dedicated integration & aftercare team in May 2006
Systematic care and case management
Three community based houses for reintegration
General improvement in reputation, client retention
and funding situation.
Coolmine – EFTC - June 2007
Countering Resistance to Organizational Change
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Board has consistently supported the new strategy and
chief executive
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Building a strong management team with shared
approach to change process
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Use of HR policies and procedures to assert
accountability in organisation and affirm change process
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Ongoing use of external change management consultant
to train and support implementation group in leading and
tracking change and dealing with resistance
Coolmine – EFTC - June 2007
Launch of Strategic Plan
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A Pioneering Record – A Dynamic Future,
Strategic Plan 2006 to 2008 launched by
Noel Ahearn, Minister with responsibility for
Irelands National Drugs Strategy
Strategy publicly endorsed by main funders,
HSE, The Probation Service, Drugs Task
forces and FAS – the Training and
Employment Authority
Coolmine – EFTC - June 2007
Implementation of Strategic Plan
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Internal Strategic Plan Implementation Group
established with remit to:
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Prioritise local action plans with each team in
conjunction with the local management
Be responsible for the implementation of key
actions and managing change
To systematically track progress across 52 actions
in the Strategic Plan
Provide leadership, to Troubleshoot and to
challenge when and where necessary.
Coolmine – EFTC - June 2007
Networks
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EFTC members, Phoenix Haga, Trempoline, and De
Kiem (Europe)
The Ley Community and Phoenix Alpha (UK)
Community of Communities quality network - two
peer reviews
Active members - drugs task forces in Ireland
Voluntary Drug Treatment Network
Contributed to National Working Group on
Rehabilitation
Partnerships
Coolmine – EFTC - June 2007
Funding Streams
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New funding for
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Additional staff, 24/7 cover in residentials
Child care worker
Training
Information technology
Refurbishment of services
Negotiating Service Level Agreements with
Funders
Reversed overall trend
Coolmine – EFTC - June 2007
The Next Steps
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Continue to provide ongoing support and
leadership training to Strategic Plan
Implementation Group
Continue to implement actions identified
within the strategic plan and manage any
difficulties and resistances.
Commence a research programme
Develop a new strategic plan for 2009 to
2015 which may see Coolmine providing
additional services on a national basis
Coolmine – EFTC - June 2007
Summary
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Very much a work in progress
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The image of Coolmine amongst service users, funders
and policy makers has improved
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New grants which radically improve the agency’s
financial situation
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Continue to build partnership relationships with peer
organisations in order to meet client need
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The Big Question: What about additional services on a
national basis?
Coolmine – EFTC - June 2007