New guidance on local partnerships

The government published new guidance for local delivery partners to drive the national Drugs Strategy “From Harm to Hope“. The guidance includes the headline metrics for a new National Outcomes Framework focused on reducing drug use, drug-related crime, and drug-related deaths and harm. Supporting metrics will be published alongside a technical guide later this year.

The new guidance also sets out the key principles and structures that should inform the creation of “Combating Drugs Partnerships” that will bring together local partners in order to understand their populations, identify challenges and solutions. These Partnerships will be accountable for delivering the outcomes in the National Outcomes Framework with a named Senior Responsible Officer reporting to central government.

The principles that should guide the work of each Partnership include shared responsibility, person-centred support and genuine coproduction with people affected by drug use. The guidance expects Partnerships to have developed delivery plans and performance frameworks by the end of the year.