Manchester Dual Diagnosis Liaison Service
Specialist advice and consultancy is available to all practitioners within mental health and substance misuse service to support their work with services users who are Manchester residents and have a dual diagnosis. This can be delivered on trust premises or in community venues. It can be provided to practitioners alone or alternatively to practitioners with their client present (interactive 3-way session).
The purpose of the Manchester Dual Diagnosis Service is to:
- Provide advice and consultancy to staff within mental health and substance misuse services to support their work with service users who experience both mental health problems and substance use problems.
- Deliver core skills and advanced skills training to staff within their mental health and substance misuse services to ensure practitioners are competent in the skills required to work with services users with a dual diagnosis
- Promote effective multi-agency work between mental health services and substance misuse services in Manchester.
What is Dual Diagnosis?
What is dual diagnosis?
- Dual diagnosis is a term denoting co-existing mental health problems and alcohol or drug misuse
- It is sometimes referred to as Co-occurring Mental Health, Alcohol and Drugs (COMHAD)
- It is estimated that 30% to 50% of people with a serious mental illness, also have a co-existing alcohol/drug condition
- In alcohol and drug services, it is estimated between 70% to 80% have difficulties in relation to their mental health
Why does it matter?
- Poorer quality of life and accommodation and work problems
- Increased physical health morbidity and mortality
- Increased rates of hospital admission, relapse, suicide and violence
- Increased risk of falling between service specifications thus reducing access to care and support
- Staff supporting people can experience their own difficulties navigating services and require support with coordination of services
What we offer
What does the MDDLS provide?
- Training for all staff around co-occuring mental health and substance use
- Policy and practice development across substance misuse and mental health services
- Support to front line staff, through case advice and consultation – advise around care planning and liaison support with substance misuse services
- Development of Greater Manchester Wide COMHAD (Dual Diagnosis) Network
Training
Specialist dual diagnosis training is provided to all mental health and substance misuse services and practitioners in the City. To find out more, please contact the service.
Courses/developments available:
- Inpatient mandatory course for all inpatient staff
- Community course for all Community and Psychological and Wellbeing Services staff
- Bespoke courses for teams, services and practitioners supporting individuals with co-occurring mental health and substance use
- Two-day Motivational Interviewing course along with regular coaching and feedback support.
- Supervision and facilitation of reflective practice groups Policy development
- Development and implementation of pathways to improve referral patterns and joint working between services
- Support to teams and departments in developing policy and practice within specific settings
Case advice
- Specialist case advice to staff working with service users of substance misuse or mental health services
- Advice and consultations with service user and their practitioner/worker
- Referral information and liaison support with mental health and substance misuse services within the City
- Provision of dual diagnosis educational materials and information that can support service users, carers and staff
Contact details
For enquiries please email MDDLS@gmmh.nhs.uk and one of the team will get back to you.
Ben Metcalfe
Dual Diagnosis Lead for Inpatient and Community in Manchester
Sarah Woodruff
Lead Trainer/Practitioner
Julie Davey
Homeless Training Coordinator
As a service user, relative or carer using our services, sometimes you may need to turn to someone for help, advice, and support.
Find resources for carers and service users Contact the Trust