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Link Up services
The service provides three main services from its base at Commerce Street in Glasgow: One Stop , Crisis Residential Unit (CRU) and Long Stay Unit (LSU) .
Link Up works with people with a range of physical and mental health needs, often related to their substance misuse. To ensure the best possible service, staff come from a broad range of professional backgrounds. Many have additional specialist qualifications in addiction and alcohol services. Some are also skilled in alternative therapies, which, for some, are effective as an alternative to prescription drugs.
One Stop
This is the first point of call for Link Up service users. A 24-hour assessment (including assessment of housing status, physical health, addiction issues and mental health), information and advice service is offered 365 days per year. People who use the service do not need to be referred to it.
From the One Stop service, people can be referred to a range of services throughout Glasgow[2]. Ongoing support can be offered through One Stop, however, if people are in need of immediate, intensive crisis support, they may also be admitted to Link Up's Crisis Residential Unit.
Crisis Residential Unit
The aim of the CRU is to provide a secure and safe environment to enable service users to withdraw from their chaotic lifestyles.
In order to be admitted a person must be sleeping rough, homeless and have alcohol addiction issues. Generally, however, service users have complex needs and often have drugs and or mental health issues in addition to their homelessness and alcoholism. The CRU gears its services towards people with alcohol addiction issues so as not to duplicate our other crisis services in Glasgow [3].
The CRU provides a 12 bed unit. Length of stay depends on individual need but the average stay is approximately four to six weeks.
Upon admission to the CRU, each service user is assessed by the visiting medical practitioner and a staff member helps to agree an initial support plan. Every service user has a thorough and detailed support plan in place within seven days of admission and where an individual does not have a current Care Manager; admission to the service triggers a referral to the Homeless Persons' Team of the Homelessness Addiction Team who will allocate a worker within 14 days.
An important part of our work at the CRU is referring people on to agencies that can help them to maintain a more stable lifestyle. The CRU also works to help service users rebuild their family and informal social support networks.
Long Stay Unit
This provides accommodation for six service users for six to nine months.
The majority of residents have previously passed through the CRU and the aim of the LSU is to provide a safe and supportive substance free environment to support people to continue to make positive lifestyle changes.
The LSU enables people to take the next step on their journey to independent living. They work closely with their key worker to identify and maximise their existing life skills and coping strategies. This includes looking at relapse management and harm reduction techniques. During their stay, residents will be encouraged to take on roles and tasks that they need for independent living.
As their life skills develop, residents are encouraged to take up opportunities for educational, leisure and social activities in addition to receiving support to contact specialist services. The LSU also supports residents in finding appropriate 'move on' accommodation.