At Wirral Ways, a unique team is going above and beyond to re-engage people who have dropped out of drug treatment – and it’s making a big difference.
Set up in late 2022, the Reengagement Team works with people who use opiates and have disengaged from support. These are often individuals who are at their most vulnerable, possibly experiencing homelessness, poor mental health, or being exploited. Rather than accepting that they’ve fallen out of contact, this dedicated team works hard to find them, listen to them, and bring them back into treatment on their own terms.
Meeting People Where They Are
The Reengagement Team is part of a wider Outreach Team and supports up to 60 priority cases at a time, including people in hostels or living on the streets. The team takes a very human, personalised approach — going out into the community, making home visits, and even chatting with people during their food shop or while they’re begging, to offer support.
Every person is given a tailored Reengagement Plan to identify the barriers that caused them to disengage and map out a route back into recovery. This could include offering different treatment options like Buvidal (instead of methadone), support with mobility issues, or mental health help.
Team Leader Simon Rimmer says:
“We know that disengaging from treatment doesn’t mean someone doesn’t want support — it often means life has just got too hard. Our job is to be there when people are ready and to make that next step as easy and welcoming as possible.”
Real People, Real Change
Some of the stories speak for themselves:
- A man with over 40 years of addiction history had never completed the 10-day titration period — until his worker walked him to the pharmacy every day to build trust. Six months later, he completed rehab and reconnected with his family.
- A woman with severe anxiety couldn’t face coming into the building — so her key worker met her at her home or local community spaces, making treatment possible on her terms.
- A man being exploited (cuckooed) was spotted by outreach workers who gave him a lift to an appointment, completed an assessment in the car, and helped him back into treatment and housing.
Since the team launched, 70 people have been referred, with:
- 30 successfully re-engaged and now supported by long-term teams
- 5 completing detox and discharged drug-free
- 2 more re-engaged after previously being discharged
Collaborative and Compassionate
The team works closely with police, hostels, and housing providers, sharing information and planning together to make sure no one falls through the cracks. Everyone in the outreach team is trained to complete assessments and build strong relationships with service users and the community.
With the right support, more people are seeing that recovery is still possible — even if it takes a few tries.
Simon adds:
“People are usually relieved when we reach out again. They often think they’ve blown their chance — we’re here to show them that they haven’t.”
If you or someone you know has disengaged from drug treatment but wants to reconnect, Wirral Ways is here to help. You can get in touch directly, or speak to any of our partners including police, hostels, or housing teams.
No judgement. Just support.