URL: https://sandwell.moderngov.co.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=1181

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Outcome:

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: Yes

Purpose: The Drug and Alcohol Treatment and Recovery Improvement Grant (DATRIG) consolidates a number of drug related grants. Grant allocations are received and spent in line with grant conditions. Sandwell’s indicative allocated Drug and Alcohol Treatment and Recovery Improvement Grant (DATRIG) amount for the 2026/27 period is £1,140,170* for substance misuse treatment and recovery and £171,312*for Individual Placement and Support (IPS). *Indicative amount still subject to Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and Treasury approvals and as such final allocation could vary. The funding and must be spent inline with grant conditions. . The funding must be spent on interventions that aim to achieve the Drug Strategy ambition to reduce drug and alcohol related deaths and harms and is to be additional to existing Public Health grant expenditure on substance misuse treatment services The Strategy therefore requires that local areas rebuild and reinvest into local support systems towards “a world class drug treatment and recovery system” Monies can only be spent on provisions that fit within OHIDs menu of interventions.

Content: Approval was sought for the distribution of the Drug and Alcohol Treatment and Recovery Improvement Grant for substance misuse treatment and recovery and for Individual Placement and Support. Sandwell’s had received the allocated Drug and Alcohol Treatment and Recovery Improvement Grant budget for 2026/27, with further indicative amounts for 2027/28 and 2028/29.   Reason for Decision The Drug and Alcohol Treatment and Recovery Improvement Grant / Supplemental Substance Misuse Treatment Funding was governed by a nationally defined Menu of Interventions produced by the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities. Local authorities were required to attribute every element of spend to one or more intervention categories. The Menu of Interventions was structured to reflect the 10-Year Drug Strategy and system-wide aims to: ·       Increase treatment capacity ·       Reduce drug- and alcohol-related harm ·       Improve recovery outcomes ·       Strengthen the workforce ·       Embed prevention and early intervention ·       Strengthen criminal justice and community safety links   The funding was required to be spent on interventions that aim to achieve the Drug Strategy ambition to reduce drug and alcohol related deaths and harms and was to be additional to existing Public Health grant expenditure on substance misuse treatment services.   The Strategy therefore required that local areas rebuild and reinvest into local support systems towards “a world class drug treatment and recovery system” Monies can only be spent on provisions that fit within Office for Health Improvement and Disparities Menu of Interventions.   It had been announced that Sandwell would receive three further years of funding for 2026/27, 2027/28 and 2028/29. The funding was to be additional to existing Public Health grant expenditure on substance misuse treatment services.   Alternative Options Considered Do not approve distribution of the Drug and Alcohol Treatment and Recovery Improvement Grant as required by Office for Health Improvement and Disparities and not utilise the additional funding but simply return the monies to government. This would mean that the local treatment population would not benefit from the quality and capacity improvements that the monies could afford.   Resolved:- (1)           that approval is given for the proposal for distribution of the Drug and Alcohol Treatment and Recovery Improvement Grant for substance misuse treatment and recovery and for Individual Placement and Support (IPS). As required by Office for Health Improvement and Disparities grant conditions;   (2)           that approval is given for the years 2026/27, 2027/28 and 2028/29 based on the Indicative amount still subject to Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and Treasury approvals, even though the final allocation could vary;   (3)           that approval is given for the variation to the current Adult Alcohol and Drug Service Contract to fund additional enhanced provision for the period 2026/27, in line with cost increases, and that delegated authority is given to the Director of Public Health to approve the variation, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Adult Services, Health and Wellbeing;   (4)           that delegated authority is given to the Director of Public Health to determine the distribution of the Drug and Alcohol Treatment and Recovery Improvement Grant over the grant period covering the financial year 2026/27, 27/28 and 28/209, in agreement with Cabinet Member for Adult Services, Health and Wellbeing;   (5)           that delegated authority is given to the Director of Public Health, in consultation with the Service Director - Governance and Monitoring Officer, to authorise variations to the existing Adult Alcohol and Drug Service contract allowing the additional enhanced provision for the remaining period of the contract term which will end 31 January 2028;   (6)           that delegated authority is given to the Director of Public Health to award and enter into any contract(s), on terms to be agreed by the Director of Public Health, for the provision of services funded by the Drug and Alcohol Treatment and Recovery Improvement Grant funds; and   (7)           that delegated authority is given to the Service Director - Governance and Monitoring Officer to take any actions as may be required to give effect to the proposals in these recommendations for the provision of Drug and Alcohol Treatment and Recovery Improvement Grant funded provisions.  

Date of Decision: February 4, 2026