Dyfodol Staff Save Lives

Six community-based staff located across Swansea, Neath and Bridgend areas have acted to save the lives of vulnerable people across the three communities in the past few months. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

They are members of a team from the Dyfodol consortium who are commissioned to provide substance misuse treatment to people involved in the criminal justice system. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Ian Williams, Mark Jones, John Charles, Kate Butt, Claire Jenkins and Dorian Dunell have each been involved in extremely challenging incidents during the past year where their quick thinking and speedy actions have undoubtedly saved the lives of service users who, either accidentally or deliberately, put their lives at risk through drug use. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Dyfodol team deliver the Offender Interventions service which is commissioned jointly by the Police and Crime Commissioner for South Wales and the National Offender Management Service in Wales. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

They are trained to administer life-saving doses of a drug called Prenoxad to substance misusers who are showing signs of overdose. Prenoxad acts as an antidote to opioids and allows recovery long enough for emergency services to attend. In some cases, further shots are administered, depending on the stability of the service user. The issuing of this medication is sponsored by the Welsh Government and it is also issued to relevant individuals for their own protection. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Gareth Hopkins, Manager of Offender Interventions said: “These workers face huge daily challenges in supporting the most chaotic people in our communities – including offenders who are serious Class A drug users. All of these incidents have been in public areas where, without their quick actions, distress could be caused to other service users and the public. These caseworkers manage and help people in the worst of circumstances. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Staff from other agencies, the general public and from the emergency services have commented on the calm and professional way that Dyfodol staff have managed these incidents. Without these interventions, which take courage and resilience and swift action by Dyfodol’s committed team members, the people involved would have undoubtedly overdosed and caused themselves further harm and, in some cases, death.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

South Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Alun Michael commented: “Substance misuse is a damaging reality in many of our communities, with an impact on individuals, on their families and on the wider community. Very often the users themselves are vulnerable people who need help to avoid risk to themselves and to others, which is why we are working together across public services to reduce those risks. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Dyfodol is the consortium we have commissioned to provide a service across police custody, probation and public prisons in South Wales and I pay tribute to the way their work is proving so effective. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“By commissioning a consortium that includes the expertise of charities and a commercial partner we have seen the work expand in effectiveness, providing a service to vulnerable individuals and helping to reduce the damage of substance misuse to the wider community.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​