MJ AWARDS

Caring for complex issues

A Stockport MBC project working with adults with complex drug and alcohol issues won the council the top accolade for Public Health Improvement in The MJ Achievement Awards 2020. Ann McGauran looks at the work and its outcomes.

The Victoria Intensive Project (VIP) was launched in 2017 by Stockport MBC to work directly with individuals with complex drug and alcohol issues. By embedding a rapid, person-focused approach, the public health team have sought to tackle the wider socio-economic causes of poor health, focusing on lifestyle choice and substance misuse.

Time is invested in building positive, trusting relationships, concentrating on the needs that matter most to the individual. This very personal approach has delivered significantly improved outcomes, including an 82% increase in levels of confidence and self-esteem and a 27% reduction in hospital attendances over 12 months.

Ann McGauran

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