Services that Manage the Care Needs of Drunk - Scottish Government

complete exit procedures before the shelter closes. 11 It is worth noting that the
evaluation of this pilot service found that the limited opening times acted as a
barrier to potential referrals from other agencies in the area.
2.15 One report made the point that when these services are closed, there is no
alternative but to place people who are drunk and incapable in police cells. 12
2.16 There are also examples where sobering-up services have been provided on a
temporary basis for specific events or occasions. These have included:
Staffing
• A limited sobering-up service in Scarborough (Western Australia), which has
been provided since 2001 as part of New Year’s Eve celebrations. 13
• A “Chill out Tent” provided to young people on Rottnest Island during
“Schoolies’ Week”, the annual week-long school-leavers’ celebrations. 14
2.17 There was little information in the literature about the staffing of sobering-up
services in Australia, although it would seem that some services are staffed
predominantly by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. 15 However, one
report – the evaluation of the pilot sobering-up shelter in Canberra – provided
detailed information about the staffing for that service.
2.18 The shelter in Canberra has five beds and employs six members of staff (four
of whom are employed as casual staff) on a part-time basis. Staff work on a
rota system with only three people on each night. Two members of staff work
from 11pm to 11am and the third person works from 11pm to 7am. A
coordinator and manager (each with responsibilities for other programmes) are
responsible for the management of the shelter.
2.19 The staff of the Canberra service had a multidisciplinary background and have
experience and / or training in drug and alcohol work, mental health,
homelessness, crisis intervention, counselling, risk assessment and care
management. All members of staff also had qualifications in first-aid, and two
were qualified registered nurses. In addition, as part of their work in the
shelter, staff undertook further training in motivational interviewing, conducting
(pat) searches, mandatory reporting, drugs and alcohol awareness, mental
health awareness, suicide intervention and personal safety. The staff also
visited other shelters in Australia to learn more about the methods used
elsewhere in working with intoxicated people. 16
2.20 While the staff of the Canberra service appeared to be very highly trained,
those employed in other sobering-up facilities may be less so. For example,
an independent review of alcohol, tobacco and other drug services in
11
Allen-Kelly et al, 2006.
12
Parliament of Victoria, 2000.
13
Government of Western Australia, 2007.
14
Midford et al, 2001.
15
Parliament of Victoria, 2000.
16
Allen-Kelly et al, 2006.
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