Recovery Connectors
Within our service we have a team of Recovery Connectors with lived experience whose focus is supporting people in treatment to access community-based recovery support. Individuals can be at any stage of their recovery journey to access this team – the only criteria is a desire to engage in structured recovery activities. Each Connector works in a designated area of Derbyshire so they can really know their local region and what support is available. The Connectors will show visible recovery as they spend time getting to know the person, exploring existing skills, interests and hobbies, before linking them in with their local recovery support services, groups and activities. Support will be on a 1:1 and group work basis within community buildings, with opportunities to attend locally arranged activities. Frequency and level of contact will vary based on individual need and be a mixture of face to face, online and telephone. The Recovery Connectors will work flexibly with people to signpost, refer and assist them to attend recovery projects, activities and mutual aid meetings. They will support people to reintegrate back into their local area, make new positive connections and build healthy recovery-based assets and foundations within their local community. In addition to 1:1 support they will offer a rolling weekly structured recovery group work programme, regular SMART meetings and host recovery-oriented activities that have been voted for by the individuals being supported. A team of Recovery Volunteers across the county will also provide additional visible recovery and compliment the peer support available.
Individuals accessing support from a Recovery Connector will also be linked in with our service’s specialist IPS employment team, Intuitive Thinking Skills courses, specialist counselling team and physical health improvement team as well as external services, as required. The Connectors will also support people with lived experience who want to attend courses, complete qualifications and gain skills and experience within the field of drug and alcohol work, via our Lived Experience Career Pathway.
Anyone working towards attending a Derbyshire County Council funded 3/6 month rehabilitation placement will also have a Recovery Connector working alongside them as they prepare for rehab and start to build a robust plan for their post rehab aftercare. Then, within the last few weeks of a rehab placement coming to an end, the local Recovery Connector will make contact and arrange community-based appointments to support the implementation of planned aftercare, for people returning to Derbyshire, post rehab.
Access to the wide variety of Derbyshire County Council’s grant funded recovery projects will be facilitated.
For more information about Growing Recovery In Derbyshire (GRID) and for a list of projects, visit Homepage - Growing Recovery In Derbyshire | Growing Recovery In Derbyshire
Access to mutual aid meetings will be facilitated
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is concerned solely with the personal recovery and continued sobriety of individual alcoholics who turn to the Fellowship for help. Find your local face to face or online meeting here - Find a Meeting - Alcoholics Anonymous
Narcotics Anonymous (NA) is open to anyone with a drug problem seeking help, regardless of what drug or combination of drugs have been used, and irrespective of age, sex, religion, race, creed or class. Find your local face to face, online or audio meeting here - Welcome | UKNA Meetings | Narcotics Anonymous Meetings in the United Kingdom
Cocaine Anonymous (CA) is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other so that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from their addiction. Find your local face to face or online meeting here – Meetings – Cocaine Anonymous CAUK Meetings
Al-Anon – is open to family members/loved ones and can help you find a different way of coping with your relationship with an alcoholic. Find your local face to face or telephone meeting here – Find an Al-Anon meeting - Al-Anon Family Groups
Alateen - is open to young people 12 to 17 years who have a problem drinker in their lives and can help young people gain an understanding of the illness and feel the benefits of realising they are not alone. Find your local face to face or online meeting here - Alateen - Al-Anon Family Groups
SMART – is open to anyone trapped in an addictive behaviour that may have become isolated and be thinking that no one else understands what you are going through and will help you find people who understand and have experience and success in dealing with these difficulties. The focus of the meeting is on the addictive behaviour and not on the substance itself. Find your local face to face or online meeting here - About Online Meetings - UK SMART Recovery
Lived Experience Career Pathway
Do you have lived experience? Do you want to gain skills, qualifications and experience in the field of drug and alcohol work? Then join us on our new Lived Experience Career Pathway.
We currently have opportunities to attend a level 1 in drug and alcohol qualification with Derbyshire Adult Community Education Service (DACES) - DACES Q24OC1333 Drugs & Alcohol Awareness Level 1 (dacesderbyshire.org.uk)
This qualification enables learners to develop a knowledge and understanding of the misuse of substances, including alcohol. Learners will also consider risk-taking behaviours associated with substance misuse that impact on health and wellbeing, whilst exploring prevention and resilience building. The topics learners cover are: What substances are commonly misused and why, Understand the personal and social effects of substance misuse, Understand the perceptions and responses to substance misuse and Understand ways to promote health choices and resilience building.
This qualification takes 8 weeks to complete and at the end of it learners will receive an accredited Level 1 in Substance Misuse qualification and certificate.
Other qualifications include:
Level 1 in Substance Misuse - DACES Q24OC1333 Drugs & Alcohol Awareness Level 1 (dacesderbyshire.org.uk)
Volunteer Passport
Suicide Awareness Award
Level 2 mentoring
Level 2 Award in Substance Misuse
….And many more!