WDP responds to new commissioning quality standards

WDP welcomes the publication of a national adult drug and alcohol treatment commissioning quality standard by the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID). These new standards were one of the key recommendations of the second part of Dame Carol Black’s review of drugs and were agreed by the government and included in the recent drug strategy.

As a third sector provider of recovery treatment and support services and a member of the expert advisory group that helped shape this framework, we are grateful to have been involved in the consultation and to have had the opportunity to share our views and experience of the breadth of activities carried out by local commissioning teams. A recognition that an effective tendering process is just one part of the wider commissioning role is important.

The new quality standards highlight the importance of collaboration and co-production, values that are a vital part of everything we do as an organisation, and this was especially clear in how the expert advisory group was consulted with and worked together. The membership of the group also reflected critical elements of these standards, such as dynamic partnership working and having people with lived experience involved at every stage as being essential.

We are very encouraged that a great deal of consideration has been given to ensure that when looking at future commissioning, the right people are in the room and that they are supported to make the best possible decisions for local communities.

The aim of the drug strategy is to have accessible, high-quality, effective, person-centred alcohol and drug treatment and recovery systems throughout England, and we feel that these new standards provide a good framework to support this important work.

David Targett, Area Director at WDP – and a member of the expert advisory group – said: “Seeing the recommendations from the Dame Carol Black review appear in the drug strategy and now being followed through with the publication of these new quality standards for commissioning is promising and positive news. However, it is imperative that we continue working together as a sector to develop long-term quality, performance, financial and workforce strategies to strengthen, expand and embed excellent treatment and support for the people who need it.”

To read the commissioning quality standard: alcohol and drug treatment and recovery guidance and self-assessment tool, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/commissioning-quality-standard-alcohol-and-drug-services