Drug and Alcohol Integrated Prevention, Treatment and Recovery Service for Adults and Young People

Wigan Council require a provider to deliver an Integrated Drug and Alcohol Prevention, Treatment and Recovery Service for Adults and Young People. The service will adopt a whole family approach and deliver a comprehensive harm reduction offer, working with safeguarding and wider system partners to reduce hidden harm, prevent drug and alcohol related deaths, and improve outcomes for children, families and communities.

The Wigan drug and alcohol service will be delivered through a whole-system, neighbourhood-based model aligned with Progress with Unity and the borough's Community Health Improvement Transformation. The service will shift away from traditional, service-led delivery towards a relationship-based approach that prioritises prevention, early intervention and reducing health inequalities. Working closely with health, social care, community, voluntary sector and criminal justice partners, the Provider will act as a system leader and enabler, ensuring support is visible, accessible and embedded within local communities. Recovery workers will be based in neighbourhood settings, supported by flexible outreach, in-reach, drop-in provision and coordinated evening and weekend support to help people access assistance at the earliest opportunity.

The model will place equal emphasis on prevention, treatment and recovery. Prevention activity will be shared across the wider system, with the Provider supporting workforce development, brief interventions, screening, trauma-informed practice and early identification of need. Treatment will consist of high-quality, evidence-based clinical and psychosocial interventions integrated with mental health, housing, employment, sexual health and criminal justice services. Recovery will begin from first contact, focusing on long-term outcomes such as improved health, wellbeing, housing, employment, social connections and independence. The service will place strong emphasis on reducing inequalities, improving access for vulnerable and underrepresented groups, and embedding lived experience throughout service design, delivery and continuous improvement.