Mental Health and Substance Use Toolkit

Why the toolkit has been developed

The Mental Health and Substance Use toolkit has been developed to support Adult Mental Health Services and Alcohol and Drug Partnerships improve the quality of care for those who present with co-occurring needs. The tools provided in the toolkit aim to support collaborative, joined up working between services, enhancing support and outcomes through improved:

understanding of service landscape and available supports across statutory and non-statutory services
practices that ensure people get the right support, at the right time
communication and joint working between services
involvement of those with lived and living experience in service improvements
enhanced connections with third sector services

How the toolkit was developed

The toolkit was developed working in partnership with five pathfinder sites across Scotland in the Mental Health and Substance Use: Improving our Response (MHSU: IoR) programme from March 2022 until March 2024.

The aim of the MHSU: IoR programme was to improve the quality of care and outcomes for those with co-occurring needs. Pathfinder sites worked with MHSU: IoR developing and testing the resources provided in the toolkit at either a board or practice level.

This toolkit is also designed to support the next phase of the MHSU work in assisting mental health and substance use services across Scotland adapt and implement an exemplar protocol which will outline how mental health and substance use services can work collaboratively to achieve recommendation 1 of The Way Ahead Review.

Who the toolkit is for

This toolkit is for staff working in mental health and substance use services, who support people with co-occurring needs. The toolkit brings together key learning, tools and information to support staff in improving services through developing and implementing collaborative working practices.

Throughout the toolkit there are links to the tools used and additional resources that can assist with testing and implementing joint working are highlighted in blue.

Working towards service improvement can seem daunting, however small changes can make big impacts. This toolkit provides straightforward and practical advice and support, as well as resources to support you and your team.

Acknowledgements

With thanks to the pathfinders and third sector partners on the MHSU: IoR programme, who shared their experience, expertise and knowledge and worked with us using the tools and resources in this toolkit.