54/2008 The Cabinet agreed that the 'Stop that
Shop' campaign and hotline, run by Trading Standards to encourage
the public to bring to their attention shops that were selling to
under-aged young people, should be advertised more widely
potentially using Medway Matters.
55/2008 The Cabinet agreed that greater awareness should be given
to parents/carers and others through an appropriate media campaign
using innovative methods to reach parents, carers and young people.
The 'parentis' parenting programme run by the Sunlight Centre could
also factor alcohol harm into the programme and could be rolled out
to anyone working with young people (The Cabinet also referred this
to the Sunlight Centre).
56/2008 The Cabinet agreed that an item should be included in the
termly briefing papers that go to all governors urging them to
ensure their schools participate in alcohol and drug harm reduction
programmes, including the 'Healthier Schools' programme. The
subject of alcohol misuse should be added to the model Child
Protection Policy for governors and training for all governors
should continue to be offered under the headings of the Every Child
Matters agenda of staying safe and healthy.
57/2008 The Cabinet agreed to investigate with the Local
Magistrates Service, a pilot scheme currently in London that
fast-tracks drug and alcohol cases through a specialist court
including treatment and recovery services with support from
therapists and social workers (The Cabinet also referred this to
the Local Strategic Partnership and the Local Magistrates
Service).
58/2008 The Cabinet agreed that Medway Council and Medway Primary
Care Trust should work more collaboratively in the provision of
advice and training to teachers (The Cabinet also referred this to
the Medway Primary Care Trust).
59/2008 The Cabinet agreed that school exclusions programmes should
routinely include drug and alcohol screening (such as Drug and
Alcohol Use Screening Tool - DUST) to identify at an early stage
potential substance misuse before more serious behaviour is
exhibited. It is also recommended that young people are also
screened, as part of primary care prevention services.
60/2008 The Cabinet agreed to recommend to Council that the
Children and Young People's Plan is amended to develop the current
targets for the number of qualified PSHE teachers to cover primary
schools and to refer explicitly to alcohol as well as drugs
education (this will be addressed the next time the Plan is updated
and will also be referred to the Medway Children and Young People's
Strategic Partnership).
61/2008 The Cabinet agreed to recommend that the Local Strategic
Partnership takes forward the following indicators into the new
Local Area Agreement negotiations specifically to reduce the harm
caused by alcohol and drugs and to reverse the current increasing
trend, especially amongst younger people of alcohol misuse: NI 21:
Dealing with local concerns about anti-social behaviour and crime
by the local council and police. NI 32: Repeat incidents of
domestic violence. NI 39: Alcohol-harm related hospital admission
rates. NI 41: Perceptions of drunk or rowdy behaviour as a problem.
NI 42: Perceptions of drug use or drug dealing as a problem. NI
112: Under 18 conception rate. NI 113: Prevalence of Chlamydia in
under 20 year olds. NI 114: Rate of permanent exclusions from
school. NI 115: Substance misuse by young people.
62/2008 The Cabinet agreed to recommend to the Local Strategic
Partnership that data available on drug and alcohol specific
effects on health, well-being, crime and antisocial behaviour be
improved to identify hotspots and aid services to target their
resources most effectively. Where ever possible drug and alcohol
data should be disaggregated.
63/2008 The Cabinet agreed to recommend to the Local Strategic
Partnership and the Medway Primary Care Trust to give consideration
to relocating the DAAT manager post (currently within the
Regeneration and Development Directorate) with other functions
providing greater synergies, such as the Primary Care Trust.
64/2008 The Cabinet agreed to recommend to the Local Strategic
Partnership and the Community Safety Partnership that a map of all
agencies involved in drug and alcohol work should be produced,
setting out their remit and how they link and work together.
65/2008 The Cabinet agreed to recommend that the Community Safety
Partnership is encouraged to undertake further research into the
causes of the significantly larger number of inpatient hospital
admissions for alcohol related conditions and a significantly
higher level of drug and alcohol related crimes being committed in
River ward to help target partnership activity to reduce the impact
of alcohol, drugs, crime, and anti social behaviour.