Alcohol and other drugs program guidelines

Part 2: program and service specifications

1. Forensic AOD treatment services

The department funds the assessment and treatment for all community-based forensic clients across the state. Forensic AOD treatment is part of the broader AOD treatment system and includes specific targeted programs, as well as access to general community treatment.

1. Purpose

AOD treatment for forensic clients is aimed at reducing the harms associated with AOD misuse, including the offending-related behaviour. 

1. Target group

Forensic treatment programs and services are provided to people with AOD use issues who have had contact with the justice system. The majority of forensic clients are mandated to attend treatment as a condition of a judicial order

1. Key service requirements 

ACSO is funded by the department through their COATS program a range of functions relating to the treatment of community based offenders as below:

• intake and screening;
• assessment;
• treatment planning; 
• bridging
• administration of forensic brokerage funding on behalf of the department
• reconciliation and demand monitoring of all forensic treatment
• ACSO undertakes the majority of intake and assessment service delivery to forensic clients.

In July 2018 a new Forensic Assessment Tool was released as a key component of the new Forensic Alcohol and other Drugs Treatment Service Delivery Model publicly released on 20 July 2018.

The new tool helps to better identify an individual’s risk of substance related harm and the relationship to their risk of re-offending. This will be used by ACSO COATS in assessing forensic clients. More detailed information on the tool in Penelope is also available on the ACSO website at <http://coats.acso.org.au/>.

AOD providers who undertake assessments for forensic ‘diversion’ clients referred from courts or court support programs such as the Court Integrated Services Program (CISP), will continue to use the voluntary AOD intake and assessment tool including Module 12 (Forensic) available at <https://www2.health.vic.gov.au/alcohol-and-drugs/aod-treatment-services/pathways-into-aod-treatment/intake-assessment-for-aod-treat>.

1.  Treatment services

Forensic AOD treatment is a core function for all funded adult, youth and specialist AOD services across Victoria. All funded services are required to:

• consider all forensic referrals from COATS, justice agencies, and other AOD treatment providers - refusal to treat a forensic client is only by exception and COATS must be notified
• provide appropriate treatment to the client based on the treatment plan developed by COATS
• provide forensic reports for the court, where required
• submit Treatment Completion Advice (TCA’s) to COATS at the conclusion of treatment

Lead agencies in each of the consortiums are expected to proactively manage capacity to take referrals for forensic clients as a priority. 

Forensic clients are often mandated to attend AOD treatment, and can be found to be in breach of a judicial order if they do not access treatment promptly. 

1. Forensic-specific programs 

Forensic clients are referred to the full range of treatment services including counselling, withdrawal, care and recovery coordination, rehabilitation and youth and Aboriginal-specific services. 

In addition there are a range of forensic-specific programs and initiatives that are particularly targeted at addressing AOD use in relation to offending behaviour. 

For further information on forensic-specific programs, please refer to the department’s website, Forensic Services. <www2.health.vic.gov.au/alcohol-and-drugs/aod-treatment-services/forensic-aod-services>.

For more information about ACSO COATS, refer to the COATS website <http://coats.acso.org.au>.

1. Group programs

‘Choices’ is an AOD group education program for low risk offenders sentenced to a community based order. ‘Choices’ aims to:

• Increase awareness of the relationship between AOD use and offending
• Identify the range of potential harms associated with alcohol and different types of drugs and methods
• of use
• Understand the short and long term effects of use on physical and mental health
• Identify the drivers and patterns of use and the interrelationships with other issues
• Improve knowledge of concepts of cravings, tolerance, dependence and withdrawal
• Understand the stages of change and how to plan for changing behaviour
• Develop strategies to identify levels of risk and reduce impacts and consequences
• Identify strategies and interventions for self-monitoring and relapse prevention.

1. KickStart Program 

KickStart is a criminogenic AOD group program based on the principle of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Risk, Needs, Responsivity (RNR) for offender treatment.

The program is designed to improve participants’ understanding of the relationship between their substance use and offending; learn the skills to facilitate change and prevent return to previous behaviours; and develop achievable self-management plans.

Eligible participants must have a community based sentence, usually a Community Corrections Order with an AOD condition. They must be assessed by Corrections with a medium to high risk of re-offending; as well as moderate to high risk of AOD harm. Each group program is structured and closed to ensure consistency throughout their engagement. 

There is a 42 hour group ('G42') for those with a high risk of re-offending, and a 24 hour group ('G24') for those with a medium risk of re-offending. Both run over an 8 week time frame. 

Those found 'unsuitable' for the group at induction with the service provider (e.g. those with significant cognitive impairment) will be diverted to the corresponding structured individual counselling program based on KickStart content. The high risk offenders go to the 15 session structured individual counselling ('IC15'), and the medium risk offenders go to the 8 session structured individual counselling ('IC8'). 

The KickStart program is being piloted to 30 June 2019 in Abbotsford, Broadmeadows, Ringwood, Footscray and Dandenong.

1. Diversion programs

DirectLine manages the Drug Diversion Appointment Line (DDAL) from Victoria Police. Low-risk clients receive a structured telephone intervention at DirectLine while substance dependent or at risk clients are referred to the relevant catchment-based intake service to access a ‘DDAL intervention’ and further support. This may include referral for assessment and treatment if required. 

Catchment based intake services are required to accept DDAL referrals and provide 'DDAL interventions' to DDAL clients. DDAL interventions may be delivered via face-to-face or phone and can be delivered via 2 separate or back to back sessions. All intake services are expected to regularly advise Turning Point of their available appointment times and ensure they have additional capacity available during festival periods. 

The intensity of the DDAL intervention session will be influenced by the client’s substance use severity and life complexity. DDAL clients who are identified as needing AOD treatment beyond the DDAL requirement should be referred on for assessment and treatment as required.

Catchment-based intake services are required to submit Treatment Compliance Advice (TCA) forms to ACSO for all DDAL clients on completion of the intervention. ACSO will provide this information to Victoria Police to advise whether the client has met the conditions of the diversion. 

1. Police cautions and diversion programs

People apprehended by the police for use or possession of an illicit drug other than cannabis may be offered a ‘drug diversion caution’ on the condition that they undertake a clinical drug assessment and attend at least one session of any prescribed drug treatment. Diversion is often directed to first time offenders. It can occur pre-charge or can be court-based. 

‘Cautious with Cannabis’ is for anyone who has received a Cannabis Caution from the Police or anyone who has concerns about their cannabis use (family and friends welcome). The 2.5 hour education programs assist participants to:

• Identify and reduce drug-related harms
• Reduce and stop drug use
• Access ongoing treatment and support

The ‘Methamphetamines Personal Education Program’ is a 3 hour education program designed for people who have been placed on a diversion program or for people concerned about their methamphetamine use. 

The program incorporates the use of a range of strategies designed to engage participants, and provides an opportunity for participants to reflect on the impact of Methamphetamine use on their lives and those people around them. Participants are supported to develop strategies associated with various stages of behaviour change, including harm reduction, planning for change, getting through withdrawal and relapse prevention.

The First Offender’s Court Intervention Service (FOCis) is a 2.5-hour compulsory drug education program for first offenders sentenced to the program by the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria. 

1. Victoria Police e-Referral system

The Victoria Police e-Referral system (VPeR) is a statewide IT referral system that enables police members to refer persons in need of support to services in the course of their day-to-day duties. Referrals relating to AOD are directed to DirectLine. 

When a referral is made through VPeR to DirectLine, one outbound telephone follow-up attempt is made to the subject of the referral. Where that person is able to be contacted – information, advice, a brief intervention and, where appropriate, referral to treatment services are provided. If that person is unable to be contacted, a single SMS with DirectLine contact details is sent.

1. Forensic targets

Specific forensic treatment targets apply. For more details please see Part 3: quality, reporting and performance management – forensic targets.

1. Additional support