Bridge PROGRAMME

Referral Criteria

Target Group
Homeless and / or rough sleeping men and women with a drug or alcohol dependency who are motivated to address their dependency issues.

Admission Criteria

In order to access the Bridge Programme service users should:

  • Be homeless or under threat of immediate homelessness.
  • Be motivated to address their dependency issues.
  • Be in receipt of or prepared to apply for benefits including housing benefit or be in a position to self fund.
  • Be willing to undergo an assessment and provide a urine sample.

Admission Criteria - We Cannot Accept

we cannot accept:

  • Couples
  • Clients who are not currently or imminently homeless or who do not have a history of sleeping rough

Referral and Assessment Procedures

Service Users can either complete a self referral or their support worker can complete this with them. Once this has been received by staff on The Bridge programme contact will be made to arrange an assessment. In line with Welsh Assembly guidance we aim to complete all assessments within ten days of the referral being received. The assessment aims to determine motivation for change as well as any clinical risk factors which we need to be aware of. A urine sample is also provided in order to ascertain current substance use.(?) On completion of the assessment if a service user is suitable for the programme they will be placed on the waiting list. In terms of treatment pathways service users generally access the preparation phase of the programme in order to prepare for and complete detoxification before moving onto Aftercare.

In certain circumstances the aftercare element of the Bridge Programme can be the entry point for service users who have undergone detoxification and achieved abstinence. There are currently two stages of Aftercare within the programme. One community based stage for service users who have achieved abstinence from all drugs and alcohol and one in house aftercare stage for service users who are abstinent from the drug which formed the basis of their problematic use and are working towards abstinence.

Both internal and external referrals for aftercare will be assessed on these criteria and the offer of a place will be dependent on availability.

Waiting list

Once the assessment procedure has been completed if a service user is assessed as suitable for the programme they will be placed on the waiting list. The Bridge Programme, in line with the Welsh Assembly guidelines, strive to minimise the waiting time between assessment and the beginning of treatment as marinating motivation is vital. The staff team will maintain contact with service users on the list in order to keep them up to date with likely admission dates and help maintain motivation. When a place becomes available the next person on the list is offered this place.

Re-entry onto the Programme

The bridge programme works within a bio-psycho-social model of substance misuse and uses the Trans-theoretical Model (Cycle of Change)  as a basis for treatment.

If a service user is asked to leave the programme due to non engagement and or they are displaying a lack of motivation they will not be considered for re-entry for a period of three months.

If a service user reaches the Aftercare stage of the programme and relapses they will be asked to leave the programme. This is for the benefit of the other residents in this stage of the programme as it is important to maintain the correct therapeutic environment for long term change. However we are committed to working in an inclusive fashion and so will work proactively with service users who continue to show motivation for change following a relapse. Service users showing motivation are able to re-access the programme at any stage depending on suitability.