Oct
29
2008
0

Kerry Katona on This Morning

I didn’t get to watch this at the time, but if this is what taking prescribed medication does then Kerry Katona needs to get her backside back to her GP to discuss it.

She is acting very like one of my clients. The poor girl needs help, that much is clear, and I am pretty sure that being put on TV when you are slurring your words, mumbling and showing a lack of comprehension is not going to help with any recovery.

Written by Anna Williams in: Uncategorized | Tags:
Sep
10
2008
8

Coroner’s court

Today I was summoned to appear at Coroner’s Court regarding the death of one of my clients. Death seems to be one of the hazards of working with clients who misuse drugs and alcohol and yet this case was especially sad as I had worked with him for over 4 years and he was one of my favourite clients. Also I found him dead at home which was hard.

I was absolutely bricking it at having to attend court today, but it actually turned out to be a surprisingly good experience. For a start the coroner was intent on establishing an accurate cause of death, and so we went through all the evidence. I was called first as a witness and I was surprised to be asked about my relationship with the client, what he was like as a person. It all seemed so personal and I was able to explain to work that I did, but more to the point the fact that I really cared about what happened to my client. Anyway, it all turned out as well as could be expected and the coroner determined that the death was due to natural causes.

One of the hardest bits though was facing the family who I know quite well. I was really aware that this was an important procedure for them, and I desperately wanted it to be as positive as possible to ensure that they were able to move on. In the end it seems that this is a possibility for them and I was pleased with the outcome. It was also reassuring to have the coroner call my work ‘exemplary’ and for him to credit me me on both my compassion and my professionalism. Whilst I don’t do this job for the credit or the thanks, it is wonderful to receive praise in such difficult circumstances.

Written by Anna Williams in: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , ,
Jul
01
2008
7

Drug Strategy frustrations

Today I have been at a conference about the new Drug Strategy 2008. Today I have been blinded with science and statistics and I have come away thinking that every single one of the people who were up the front speaking wouldn’t know a drug user if they robbed their handbag.

Now, here is the thing that has really frustrated me. The new strategy talks a lot about reducing harm to families and to children and young people, whether they be using drugs and/or alcohol themselves or whether a family member is a user. However, as part of a treatment service we are forced to engage in a ridiculous game known as National Treatment Agency Targets. Every single one of these targets is about waiting times and retention. Not one of them is about client care, outcomes or family and systemic work. So, the fact that about 80% of the work that I do is with families, pregnant women and more general work around psycho-social interventions does not count. Not one minute of this work goes towards the so-called targets that I am meant to meet.

What really, really hacks me off is that we know that merely prescribing a pharmaceutical intervention to someone is not enough. If they are homeless, have no benefits and are therefore offending to fund their habit, lonely, dirty, poorly and have children in and out of the care system, how on earth is giving them methadone or Subutex actually going to make a big difference to their lives? They need someone to help them through the issues, to give them the confidence and ability to rebuild their shattered lives and support them to make positive sustained change.

But no. None of this makes a difference and none of this counts as it does not fit into the aforementioned bastard targets.

I dream that one day the policy makers would come and sit in a client session with me. That they would look into the eyes of the individual sitting in front of them and see the years of pain and abuse that clients go through until they end up in my counselling room. Then, just maybe, we would start to make progress. Then we might have policies and targets that mean something, both to the clients and the workers. Until then however, I am a paper-pusher who has to get in at 7.30am just to do my paperwork and statistics so that my client work isn’t affected by it all.

No wonder I am so knackered.

Written by Anna Williams in: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , ,
Jun
02
2008
3

They tried to make me go to rehab

I’m tired!!!!

Yesterday I went down to Reading to see Peterson perform The Re-Education of George W Bush – No President Left Behind. As usual it was very funny, but as I have now seen it several times I tend to make a bit of a tit of myself and start laughing *before* the funny bits as I know what is coming up. I stayed overnight with Peterson and his friend (well, my friend too now I suppose) Es and we went out with a few other people for something to eat after the show.

I discovered that red wine, white wine, Baileys and a late night do not make me feel particularly perky in the morning. I even had to go and do a rehab visit this morning.

Fact: drinking on a school night is a BAD idea. I would like to say “never again” but I probably wouldn’t manage to stick to it so I won’t bother. Also, I would love to blame Peterson but he was the very model of self-control last night. Pah!!

Ps. Here is a picture of me and my lovely friend Simon.

DSCN4694

Written by Anna Williams in: Uncategorized | Tags: , ,

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