• Alcohol Free - Drug Free

    ‘A service for offenders with multiple and complex problems who seek to achieve their full potential’

WELCOME TO ALPHA HOUSE CALDERDALE

The vision for Alpha House came out of one of the trustee’s experience of working with Probation clients who were being released from prison. Some were desperate to remain drug free but had nowhere to go except on the streets or back to their old drug using or drinking friends and inevitably back to their addiction. Many of those also suffered from mental health issues. This led to a repeat of the cycle of drug/alcohol use, offending, prison and release. It sometimes led to suicide out of frustration about their inability to break free or premature death by overdose or gradually failing health.

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A Place of New Beginnings

‘A service for offenders with multiple and complex problems who seek to achieve their full potential’.

Sessions

Our drug and alcohol treatment element is a structured therapeutic approach to recovery and our residents are expected to attend our Day Treatment Recovery Programme delivered by SWAP; (Safe Welcome After Prison), as well as Key Worker sessions and other treatment groups run by Alpha House.

Assessments

Residents will undergo a full needs assessment before being housed and may be required to attend other drugs or alcohol services as well as accessing mental health provision where needed.

Other Information

We predominantly seek to assist those who are being released from prison or referred via the criminal justice system or mental health services. However, this should not deter people who have a substance misuse problem with a history of offending or mental health issue and we will take a self-referral if the person concerned has been in touch in the past with an organisation who can vouch for them or willing to give them a reference.

Our treatment element is a structured therapeutic approach to recovery extending beyond simply looking at addiction, but social and domestic issues and lifestyle, particularly offending behaviour:

  • Our residents are expected to attend all Key Worker sessions and groups run by the project.
  • Residents must attend a therapeutic Day Treatment Recovery Programme as part of their overall care package
  • Residents must attend 3 12 Step Fellowship meetings a week
  • Residents will undergo a full needs assessment before being housed and may be required to attend other drugs or alcohol services as well as accessing mental health provision where needed.
  • The aim of the project is to provide support towards independence. This includes working towards gaining employment beginning with volunteering, training and work placements. We will assist with access to these when the time is right.
  • We feel there can be so much wasted potential in people and this increases where there is an addiction problem and/or mental health issue. Our staff are committed to helping people to go as far as they want to go to achieve their full potential in life

We have a 3 Stage Accommodation Programme. Stage1 is designed to provide concentrated structure and support. Generally, this will mean a stay of up to 12 weeks in a self-contained apartment in our staffed Support Unit, during that time residents will attend the Change of Lifestyle Programme which will address addiction, mental health, and offending behaviour. During this phase, residents are supported and prepared for Stage 2.

Stage 2 properties are self-contained apartments in a block of 18 which are all managed by Alpha House. This provides a “recovery community” with on-call staff available to deal with any problems arising and staff are available at the adjacent Support Unit. A Tailored recovery programme is designed to meet the needs of those in Stage 2.

Stage 3 of the housing programme is a property further out in the community and a recovery programme which includes education/training/volunteering or work training. These properties can be taken over independently by the resident when they become employed.

A desire to have a lifestyle change and become an industrious citizen; that is to say, a person who wishes to address all of their needs and to eventually return to work.

Partners