For people who:
• Have lived and living experience from substance use (this includes either through their own use or those of another)
• Reside in Derbyshire
• Interested in gaining skills and experience including volunteering
• Keen to developing a career within the field of substance use
The pathway aims to provide the knowledge and skills necessary to support a career within the sector. This includes opportunities to volunteer and apply the learning into practice (with support and supervision).
If you would like to explore what volunteer opportunities are available contact us at ASCH.GRIDinfo@derbyshire.gov.uk - You may also want to check out the following organisations that are providing volunteering opportunities:
Phoenix Futures Derbyshire
Current Opportunities:
• Peer Mentors
• Recovery Buddies
Contact: Tom
Kelsey Family CIC
Current Opportunities:
• Hub volunteers
• Activity Box Creation
• Marketing and Fundraising Roles
• Peer 2 peer Mentoring roles
• Sessional Activity Volunteers Counsellor Work Experience Placements
• Holistic Therapy Work Experience Placements
Contact: Steph
Rhubarb Farm CIC
Current Opportunities:
• Supported volunteer roles
• Traditional volunteer roles
• Farm, Animal Care and Horticulture Volunteer
• Community Food Pantry volunteer
• Micro Jobs: 4 hours a week for 6 months with work coaching in a relevant field (Decide your own job role)
Contact: Ben (who also offers help/ guidance on writing CV’s etc)
Current Opportunities:
• Volunteering within the project either as part of RISE or before joining RISE
• Microjobs: 4 hours a week for 6 months with work coaching in a relevant field (Decide your own job role)
Contact: Paul
Current Opportunities:
• Peer Support Volunteers (prior lived experience within the forces is required for this opportunity)
Contact:Jane
The Level 1 in Substance Misuse is a nationally recognised qualification and the Enhanced Skills Practice Course builds on the learning from the Level 1. There is also the opportunity to access two practical and educational courses provided by Intuitive Thinking Skills (one of our key partners within the pathway). These courses provide a fresh perspective to understanding addiction and builds self-awareness which is key to working within the sector:
This is a 4 day course, delivered by people who have been through drug and alcohol treatment and have successfully recovered. It’s a practical educational course which teaches the learner how to say NO to the voice in their head that encourages them to go back using or drinking. As such, its idea for those still using substances or alcohol, as well as those seeking to cement their plans for abstinence further.
The course comes with a Level 1 Qualification in Addictive Desire Recognition.
More Info: https://www.intuitivethinkingskills.co.uk/our-programmes/intuitive-recovery/
This 5 day course is educationally based and developed by those with lived experience to overcome mental health challenges and move forward with their lives understanding that it is they who control how they think and feel. It’s a practical toolkit to move on from trauma and/or emotional mental wellbeing issues and to “out it all behind me” .
The course comes with two, Level 1 awards.
NOCN Level 1 Award in Developing Critical Thinking Skills to Enhance Personal Decision Making
NOCN Level 1 Award in Building Personal Resilience
More Info: https://www.intuitivethinkingskills.co.uk/our-programmes/skills-tu-life/
Both courses are available to any resident of Derbyshire. Contact us at ASCH.GRIDinfo@derbyshire.gov.uk if you’re interested in registering for these courses and/ or finding out more about the lived experience career pathway.
Alternatively, you can self-refer @ Referrals - Intuitive Thinking Skills
Peer Support For You!
Join us for our new monthly Peer Support Groups - Lived Experience Career Pathway - Peer Support Groups | Growing Recovery In Derbyshire
These groups are led by Olivia from Derbyshire Addictions and Advice Service (who are the provider of the Enhanced Skills Course which is part of the Lived Experience Career Pathway).
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The level 1 in Drug and Alcohol Awareness Training (provided by DACES) is a nationally recognised qualification which runs online for 2 hours per week over the duration of 8 weeks. This course launched as part of the lived experience pathway in October 2024.
If you are interested in enrolling contact us at ASCH.GRIDinfo@derbyshire.gov.uk
COURSE DATES FOR 2025:
February Cohort:
Start Date: Tuesday 4 February 2025 – Tuesday 1 April 2025
Start Time: 6.30pm – 8.30pm
Day: Tuesday
Total Weeks: 8
May Cohort:
Tuesday 13th May- Tuesday 8th July
September Cohort:
Tuesday 16th Sept – Tuesday 18th Nov
Level 1 Qualification Criteria:
Please note – this is a formal qualification, not training or a self-reflective course, and so requires commitment and input.
The learner must:
• Have access to a computer
• Have an email address
• Be able to use Microsoft Teams and Microsoft Word
• Be able to commit every week for 8 weeks to 2 hours of evening online learning (6.30pm-8.30pm) one day each week, with approx. 20 mins of homework.
*If someone has not recently completed any adult education qualifications, they will need to attend a one off local ‘Making Choices’ face to face session with DACES (which we will support) so an assessment of readiness for the course can be completed (this is to ensure that if you’re not quite ready you’ll be supported to attend other qualifications beforehand, e.g. English or technology) – See the Making Choices section on this site for further details
Level 1 in Substance Misuse Qualification – the finer details:
This qualification enables learners to develop a knowledge and understanding of the misuse of substances, including alcohol. Learners will also consider risk-taking behaviours associated with substance misuse that impact on health and wellbeing, whilst exploring prevention and resilience building.
The topics learners cover are:
• What substances are commonly misused and why
• Understand the personal and social effects of substance misuse
• Understand the perceptions and responses to substance misuse
• Understand ways to promote health choices and resilience building
The follow on from this course is provided by Derbyshire Addictions FAQ: What follows the Level 1 Qualification?
There is also the opportunity to access two practical and educational courses provided by Intuitive Thinking Skills (one of our key partners within the pathway). FAQ :Tell Me About Intuitive Thinking Skills.
Many questions can be answered in the 'FAQ' section.
Check out the February Start - Dur and Alcohol Awareness Level 1 poster below!
The Enhanced Skills Practice Course
This course is provided by Derbyshire Addictions Advice Service (DAAS) which is Derbyshire’s specialist Substance Use training provider.
What You’ll Gain
• Enhanced alcohol and substance awareness
• Lots of activities to practice the skills to support someone is treatment
• A space to gain a deeper level of understanding
• Opportunities to put the theory into practice
• A space for peer support and shared learning from experience
Course Requirements
• Completed the DACES Level 1 qualification in Substance Misuse
• Have lived/ living experience of drugs and alcohol
• Live in Derbyshire
• Have a desire to have a career within the substance use sector
• Be willing to volunteer/ have a volunteer placement
• Able to attend all the dates over 2 separate weeks
Course Dates and Times
When? 10am-1pm each day on:
Tuesday 4th, Wednesday 5th and 6th March 2025 (Week 1)
Tuesday 18th , Wednesday 19th, Thursday 20th and Friday 21st March 2025 (Week 2) ,
Where? Online - Over MS teams
Who? Derbyshire Addictions Advice Service, your tutor will be Olivia
Check out the post for full details: Lived Experience Career Pathway - DAAS Enhanced Skills Practise Course | Growing Recovery In Derbyshire
Contact us at ASCH.GRIDinfo@derbyshire.gov.uk
Join us for our new monthly Peer Support Groups – Lived Experience Career Pathway - Peer Support Groups | Growing Recovery In Derbyshire
These groups are led by Olivia from Derbyshire Addictions and Advice Service (who are the provider of the Enhanced Skills Course which is part of the Lived Experience Career Pathway).
These informal sessions are delivered on the last Friday of every month at alternating times each month between 10am-11:30am and 3:30pm-5:00pm and provide a chance to meet other people the pathway as well as finding out more about the pathway and what it involves.
The Public Health Substance Use Team in Derbyshire have an ambition to build a ‘home-grown’ specialist treatment and recovery workforce for Derbyshire. This means creating pathways and opportunities where people affected by substance use can channel their lived and living experience into careers within the local system.
The pathway aims to prepare the participant for a future career within the sector. A paid job isn’t guaranteed at the end of the pathway however the skills, learning and opportunities provided are designed to support applying for a paid role
For more information DACES Course List (dacesderbyshire.org.uk)
The pathway takes a partnership approach:
Further Derbyshire-wide volunteering opportunities are in development.
Find out more about Recovery by visiting the GRID home page
Find out more about Treatment in Derbyshire at: derbyshirerecoverypartnership.co.uk