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Alcohol Linkworkers | Alcohol Care Managers
Alcohol Linkworkers
Alcohol Linkworkers provide specialist alcohol assessments and structured support as part of Manchester Community Health provision (NHS Manchester). They work across the city offering one-to-one appointments, weekly or fortnightly, in doctor’s surgeries or at nearby health centres. Every doctor’s surgery in Manchester has a dedicated Alcohol Linkworker so that patients and staff can easily access the service. Alcohol Linkworkers come from a background of nursing, occupational therapy, social work or a general professional experience in alcohol.
Their work covers a range of drinking patterns including drinking levels that present a higher risk to health as well as dependent drinking levels that present a risk to cutting down or stopping. They can also signpost people who are affected by someone else’s drinking so they can access support for their own needs. The Alcohol Linkworkers also complete detox assessments. They advise people whether a detox is necessary and the safest location to do this e.g. at home or in a residential environment. They also work closely with the Alcohol Care Managers to make sure that all support options have been considered.
Alcohol Care Managers
The Alcohol Care Managers provide a community care service for Manchester residents as part of Adult Social Care provision (Manchester City Council). They complete community care assessments for people who are experiencing physical ill health or a physical disability as a result of their alcohol use. They can arrange packages of care to help people live independently in the community. As part of the care planning for an alcohol detoxification, they also complete assessments for residential rehabilitation or other "dry" accommodation.
When someone continues to drink at harmful levels, it may be appropriate to link them into "wet" accommodation and help them work towards safer planned drinking levels. In addition, the Alcohol Care Managers recognise the great difficulties and stresses of caring for someone whose drinking is causing them problems. They also offer assessments for carers to provide advice and support to access services and reduce or give them a break from their caring role.
