Employment-based training on alcohol and other drugs in England: bridging the gap
Issue Date
2014-06-19Subjects
substance misusealcohol
drugs
social work
training and learning
workforce development
professional development
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
The first of its kind in England, this study explored the extent and nature of employer-based training on alcohol and other drugs for social workers working in children's and adults' services. A national survey of workforce development departments was undertaken to find out how social workers are being prepared by their employers for engaging with people who use alcohol and other drugs. Based on a response rate of 46%, the findings show that a majority of departments (82%) provided training on these issues in the year 2011–2012. However, most of this training was not mandatory. These courses are targeted most often at those working in children's services rather than those in adults' services. Most courses are offered at basic or intermediary level, and content of training is covered inconsistently. These findings suggest a need to increase the priority of alcohol and other drugs' training across adults' services in particular and to make this training mandatory, as well as ensuring that staff have adequate time and incentive to attend. Effectiveness of social care practice for all social care practitioners around alcohol and other drugs use could be improved with more focus on training practitioners how to talk to service users about their substance use.Citation
Allnock, D., Hutchinson, A. (2014) 'Employment-Based Training on Alcohol and Other Drugs in England: Bridging the Gap' Social Work Education 33 (6):760-773Publisher
Taylor & FrancisJournal
Social Work EducationAdditional Links
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02615479.2014.919068Type
ArticleLanguage
enISSN
0261-54791470-1227
ae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.1080/02615479.2014.919068