5. Prevent and support recovery of drug and alcoholmisuseMedway is ranked worst for substance abuse in Kent ina number of indicators. It has the highest volume (73),second highest per head of population prevalence (26per 1000) and third highest rising trend of substance273253250185188Maidstone5098Tunbridge WellsSevenoaksTonbridge & MallingAshfordDartfordGraveshamDoverMedway08469100107119145152150Canterbury236200misuse (58% increase from the previous year) acrossKent and Medway.126 52% of the adults in treatment hadproblems with opiates, which is the largest substancegroup.127The Medway figures do not include the number ofchildren receiving treatment for substance misuse whichis 123 (1.9 per 1000 0-17 yr. olds) putting Medway in top25% of all local authorities.128Oasis Domestic Abuse Services supportadults, children and young people in EastKent, Medway and North Kent who have beenaffected by domestic abuse.Sam* was referred by Early Help andPreventative Services to Oasis. He had beenwitness and victim to domestic abuse betweenhis mother and father until he was seven yearsold when his parents separated.CASE STUDY4. Improving economic wellbeing and restoringfinancial resilience for the most vulnerableMedway has some of the highest instances of debtand deprivation in Kent. It has the highest percentageof children (under 16’s) living in absolute low incomeat 16.4%124 and the largest number of Universal creditclaimants in Kent, including those employed whilston Universal credit.125 Indicators also demonstrate alink between debt and the number of universal creditclaimants, with Medway ranking worst for unmetdemand for face-to-face debt advice. Groups more likelythan average to have taken on more debt since the startof the coronavirus pandemic include renters, minorityethnic groups, parents and carers, disabled people, thosewho are shielding, and young people.300Folkestone & Hythe3. Reducing loneliness especially for the elderlyMedway has a remarkably high estimated number ofolder people aged 65+ that are lonely at 360,321.120 Thisis based on 2011 ONS Census and Age UK insight. Mostrecent Census figures were not available at the time ofgoing to print (they will be available in from June 2022);however, it is reinforced by Medway ranking 120th out ofall authorities on the loneliness scale, which is secondhighest rank across Kent and Medway.121 Medway is alsothe second highest district for pensioners living alone.122Before lockdown, Medway Council estimated thataround 12,000 people across Medway were affected bysocial isolation.123A rank of 1 on the table below, is the most deprived. Thereare 333 local authorities in England.SwalePossession of a weapon is also increasing. Medwayrecorded the third highest incidence per 1,000 ofpopulation with the most arrests across Kent andMedway.118 Of Children in Need (CIN) episodes, theDepartment of Education reported 0.7 out of every 1,000under 17’s in Medway feature a child where gangs areidentified as a factor at assessment.119Medway is ranked 4th most deprived in Kent and Medway.34County Lines associated with drug running is agrowing issue and is difficult to isolate to one place asrecruitment of vulnerable young people and place ofcrime are often across different areas. Proximity to theLondon boroughs means that Medway is a prime target.DEPRIVATIONThanetYouth Justice system for the first time. Some of theseoffences will be relatively minor, but for serious crimesthere is a growing trend.Sam has contact with his father and witnesseshis anger and attempts to continue to controlthe family. Sam struggles with his anger and thereferral states that Sam’s mother was worried hewould hurt her.ere parent suffering domestic abuse117NEEDS ANALYSIS23
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