Chapter List Guidelines In a nutshellAbout these guidelinesPart A: About co-occurring conditionsA1: What are co-occurring conditions?A2: How common are co-occurring conditions and why are they of concern?A3: Guiding principlesFirst, do no harmWork within your capacityEngage in ongoing professional developmentRecognise that the management of co-occurring conditions is part of AOD workers’ core businessProvide equity of access to careAdopt a ‘no wrong door’ policyRecognise that co-occurring conditions are common and all clients should be routinely screenedConduct ongoing monitoring of symptoms and assessment of client outcomesFocus on engaging the client in treatmentAdopt a holistic approach that focuses on treating the person, not the illnessAdopt a client-centred approachAdopt a trauma-informed care approachEmphasise the collaborative nature of treatmentHave realistic expectationsExpress confidence in the effectiveness of the treatment programAdopt a non-judgemental attitudeAdopt a non-confrontational approach to treatmentInvolve families and carers in treatmentInvolve peers in treatmentConsult and collaborate with other health care providersEnsure continuity of careA4: Classification of disordersPart B: Responding to co-occurring conditionsPart C: Specific population groupsAppendicesAbbreviationsGlossaryReferencesDisclaimer and acknowledgements Download full Guidelines Order a free hard copy Involve families and carers in treatment Download page With the client’s consent, AOD workers should involve the client’s family and carers where possible and appropriate. Families and carers should be involved as much as possible in decisions regarding treatment and discharge planning, as they will often need to facilitate the client’s access to other services. With the client’s consent, family members/carers should be provided with regular feedback so that they know their views and feelings are valued. It is important to clarify with clients specifically what information they consent to being shared with their families or carers. Families and carers should also be informed of services available to them in the form of advocacy and support groups. Two useful resources are available, and may have relevant information for families, carers, and friends: Tools for change: A new way of working with families and carers, developed by the Network of Alcohol and other Drugs Agencies, available as part of the Families and Carers Toolkit [146]. Guidelines to consumer participation in NSW drug and alcohol services, developed by the NSW Ministry of Health [147]. www1.health.nsw.gov.au/pds/ActivePDSDocuments/GL2015_006.pdf Download section Previous Next