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It's not the staff, it's the service or rather a lack of it.

Posted By Single

"It's not the staff, it's the service or rather a lack of it."

About: CGL Nottinghamshire

(as a service user),

A number of years ago CGL took over the contract for Mansfield's drug services, they made all the support staff with mental health training redundant & hired fresh faced collage kids.

I went from seeing 2 mental health councillors once a week to seeing a worker maybe once every 6 months. That cant really do anything to help with my issues because what I need isn't there anymore.

I had gotten clean from Heroin after 10 years as an addict & have been clean 13 years now & the service has done almost nothing to support me during the entire time CGL has been in contract.

In fact I'd say if it wasn't for prescribing Methadone I wouldn't even bother using the service because they offer nothing else I require.

I asked the doctor about my crippling depression & help getting false teeth & access to a dentist. They told me to stop feeling sorry for myself & pull my socks up & the things I was doing to try & help myself were stupid.

I can offer no words of praise for the service. My life was far better as a Heroin addict & in my opinion CGL as a service should be cancelled for lack of efficacy.

Its not the staff its the service or rather a lack of it.

Hopefully soon I will have weened myself off Methadone without any support from CGL so I can put that useless service in my rear view mirror.

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Responses

Response from Rachel Nicholls, Services Manager, change, grow, live (CGL) New Directions, CGL 2 years ago
Rachel Nicholls
Services Manager, change, grow, live (CGL) New Directions,
CGL

Submitted on 09/05/2023 at 20:29
Published on Care Opinion at 20:29

Hey,

I'm sorry that the changes to the service are not meeting your needs. Please could you clarify what substance use support you need that you no longer receive from the service? If you would like to discuss this with me please contact me Rachel.Nicholls@cgl.org.uk so that I can fully understand what you need and the treatment that you have/have not received.

Thank you for taking the time to share your story. It really important to receive feedback and understand what people need from the service so we can do better.

Thank you

Rachel

  • {{helpful}} {{helpful == 1 ? "person thinks" : "people think"}} this response is helpful

Update posted by Single (a service user)

Its not substance support I need.

Ive been completly clean from illicits for 13 years,not one dirty sample ever,but cgl still prescribe my methadone,its mental health support that I need & have needed for years,im too far gone at this point I think,my physical health & mental health have deteriorated so far now I feel I dont have it in me.

Ive litterally had no support at all whatsoever outside of maybe one monthly visit for an hour for the last 8 years or so & I dont respond to group therapy & really struggle to just talk to people outside of what I call safe enviroments,im always saying the wrong thing or not saying something at the right time I dont understand that kind of social interaction.

I have pretty serious anti social personality disorder I dont feel empathy I dont connect with people very well at all so groups are very uncomfortable.

I was doing ok with the support I had & then cgl took over & got rid of most of the long term support workers including both of my key workers who were mental health nurses with 2 decades of experience who ide worked with for 10 years & who knew me very well & ive had very very minimum support since.

My worker tries their best, they are the only good thing about it, but they are only one person & the services I need just arnt there anymore.

The doctor I saw at cgl when I brought up my depression & tried to talk to him told me to stop feeling sorry myself & pull my socks up & that the things I was doing to try & help myself were no good.

The part that really grates on me though is having to spend money I dont have getting there & then having to be around people I dont want to be around because they still use & home visits were stopped.

I need one to one support that just isnt available.

Im just ranting at this point but I feel so let down by the service since cgl took over but its the system it is what it is.

Response from Rachel Nicholls, Services Manager, change, grow, live (CGL) New Directions, CGL nearly 2 years ago
Rachel Nicholls
Services Manager, change, grow, live (CGL) New Directions,
CGL

Submitted on 17/05/2023 at 09:57
Published on Care Opinion at 09:57

Hey,

Thank you for coming back to me.

I hear your frustrations, we are a substance misuse service and not a mental health service, and its this support that you feel you need. I cant comment on the previous offer you had received as it was before my time, however would like to discuss how we have been able to support you with referrals for both your physical health and mental health.

I would also like to explore with you the service received by the doctor. I understand that on occasion people get frustrated if we are not able to offer what they would like, however these messages should always be delivered with compassion, and your attempts at solutions never dismissed.

I don’t take this as ranting at all, I am receiving this as feedback and that provides us with an opportunity to do better for you and others.

I would welcome a discussion with you about this you can contact me Rachel.Nicholls@cgl.org.uk or 07407852213, to help me understand your experience and any further opportunity we have to support you.

  • {{helpful}} {{helpful == 1 ? "person thinks" : "people think"}} this response is helpful
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