How helpful is a key worker?

[simon]

Most people will see a key-worker, what do they do that's useful and what do they do that isn't useful? What do you need from a key-worker. Do people accessing NHS prividors get a better deal or about the same? People will complete TOP forms and NDTMS data/questions - are these of use?
A lot of patients will have care plans, are they helpful or a paper excercise?

If you ask for information about your medication or drugs in general are key workers knowledgeable and is the information useful? Do you trust what your key-worker tells you?

[usandthem]

Ah great questions Simon. I will need a bit of time on this one Simon. I will give my reply tomorrow 

[simon]

Ah great questions Simon. I will need a bit of time on this one Simon. I will give my reply tomorrow 

Many thanks. I think these sorts of questions and a few others might help debates on here.

[derek d j]

Questions one and two need a little thought. 3-7, yes, no, not sure, no and no.

[simon]

Questions one and two need a little thought. 3-7, yes, no, not sure, no and no.

hmm might edit tommorrow to make it a list of numbered questions or maybe a poll.

[derek d j]

Good idea. I'd be interested to learn the results of an accurate 'user survey' that asks the right questions not just vague piffle about scoring our estimated 'quality of life' or 'psychological health' from 1 to 20..

[froude]

I woll also have to think on this one,give me a day aswell Simon please ,cheers Froude

[froude]

Thought about it and didnt need a day lol.Simon you asked if people  having N.H.S providers have a better deal than people with just the normal D.S.P.Well ,I think that the answer is NO( not in my area anyway),when i first started my treatment i was with a normal D.S.P(not N.H.S)and although my first Keyworker was just brilliant and was wasteing her time where she was,i was soon put under the N.H.S Mental Health Team D.S.P,ive been with them now 7yrs ,only now is my Mental Health coming to the forefront of my treatmentand my keyworker thinks my drug years are to do with my past(i did say that 7yrs  ago,when it should of been addressed at the start,this is the same D.S.P(N.H.S)that couldnt find a years worth of my perscriptions,and then said to me "Are you sure we were writeing them  for you,and not your Doctor,my reply was "it is you, as im looking at one of your stamps at the top of your script",the same D.S.P that sends the scripts out in the post the day before they are due ,the same D.S.P that know i have problems with forgetting you exist and dont send you out an appointment for near on 6 months,the same D.S.P that accidently wrote out the wrong valium script for me ,so i ended up with 18mil a day for a week rather than my normal dose of 36mil,and was an utter mess for a week ,as they said they only have a doctor in once a week,but every Key i have met is a nurse and can sign scripts.Yeah they have got it right now,only because i have said to them i dont mind going to the next town to see my new Key,as it is the only way i get to see him as all the ones who have a clinic in my town i have seen or they think i speak my mind (the truth)and they dont like it.So my answer is ,can i go back to my old D.S.P please .Also with the N.H.S D.S.P's is they seem to have to many clients,overall the Keyworkers i have been with now know about as much as you can put on the back of a postage Stamp,FUCK ALL.All the best Froude.

[sapphire]

Mine is of no help what so ever, all they do is say "1 or 2ml a week, go on, you won't feel it", then call me stubborn when I resist. Idiots. 

[usandthem]

Most people will see a key-worker, what do they do that's useful and what do they do that isn't useful? What do you need from a key-worker. Do people accessing NHS prividors get a better deal or about the same? People will complete TOP forms and NDTMS data/questions - are these of use?
A lot of patients will have care plans, are they helpful or a paper excercise?

If you ask for information about your medication or drugs in general are key workers knowledgeable and is the information useful? Do you trust what your key-worker tells you?

1. New Key-worker is very nice and very understanding so the question of useful is that you can have a coffee & chat every other week with an understanding qualified worker.
However, my old key-worker was not helpful at all and was target driven and you could tell it was just another 8 hours  to this specific key-worker.
2. Key-workers need to be professionally trained and not filling in or acting as a sidebar to their uni time and assignments for their psychology degree. Too many key-workers are under trained and really need to be supervised when sitting in with vulnerable people. Even so, training is no good if the key-worker isn't understanding. I will tell you there are a few keys that do not understand the job description. Also if they do not enjoy their post then why be in the job. There are key-workers who are under-trained but show signs of being very understanding and accommodating to the patient. This is not uniform though, especially with the current pressuring for 'getting users off' targets. Pressure has been ramped up 10 fold since this new crime reduction probation thingy service took over from CDT. Pressuring the patient is totally unprofessional and destroys key-worker and s/user relationship there and then.
3. I have been in both DSP and shared care and the only difference is you collect your prescriptions but often have to do a lot of waiting around. Accommodating individual patient needs should be at the forefront of the DSPs mind but I was shuffled off without being asked if I want to move. I was not happy in shared care. Also the paper-work isn't for our benefit it is to save the DSPs neck if something bad happens to the user. So they bore us with daft psycho-social questions that you have to score your well-being. Well this is such a waste of time because users will give the key-worker what they need to hear so as they can move on to their next appointment and carry on with their disrupted lives. Monitering is a good thing as long as it isn't done to the extreme. They should only need to risk assess if patients are showing signs of demise.

That's my SU view of your questions Simon

[angiesims AKA true grit :)]

I suppose a Key Worker would be more beneficial if he/she stayed with you longer. Its ridiculous how many Key Workers I've had in just 2 years never mind the 20years plus I've been receiving treatment. Having to tell your story over and over again to a different Worker is not the best. Don't they read their files?? All Key Workers are different. My last one was fantastic and I've had him 6months. But many in the past have sent me away in tears and I can understand why a lot would go away and use again! A lot of their paperwork is for their statistics. Fact lol

[simon]

I'm enjoying reading the replies and wonder where solutions will appear. I think many of these organisations are far too big and can't understand local issues and use a one size fits all.

[froude]

Yeah definately"One size fits all"seems to be the way simon.All the best froude

[Bonjour]

oops hadn't noticed this thread when I started the other one about key workers!

[OP8S]

I'm in shared - care. Don't have a bad word to say about any of the nurses, or the GP that prescribes for me. I think the NHS is only one of the things still great in Great Britian. Local CDT I'm sure help some people out. Nobody I've met recently , I have a small circle of friends I suppose. I think most of their success's are from drying out alcoholics. There is so much emphasise placed on reduction they might as well have a revolving door. I am constantly met with people saying that they can only get reduction scripts. It took me a while but I realised that these people were going straight to the local CDT. I was referred by my GP to the maintenance clinic after countless failed detoxes. The GP is all in favour of maintenance should there be reason for it.
Obviously I would prefer a diamorph script, but a methadone one with a GP who is specially trained in analgesia / addiction, who is an employee of the NHS is the best option available to me. Even he gets pissed off with having to tow the local CDT line. You would think that being a GP with about 8+ years of training that they would seek his advice on matters. At times I have seen him curse the buerocracy & petty power struggles that arise in local CDT ! He want's to listen to his patients & prescribe appropriatley, but if their is ever a spanner in the works you can bet your bottom doillar that it's come from the CDT.
Personaly I think the GP & nurses should decide on matters as they are professional medically trained people who have nothing to either lose or gain by treating a SU like shit, they wouldn't anyway. It's a small team due to the rural setting but they do as good a job as they can. The only thing they find is that the local CDT are too target driven by results, meaning people re-present themselves within a matter of weeks usually.
I'm sure keys have there place when somebody is in need of help, maybe to get on a script but after that I can't say I've fund any of my keys helpful. Though they may be  should I decide to reduce my dose.
Medicall staff should form the core of any DSP surely ? Not accountants.