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This sounds terrific Sarah - as you know, I am a big fan of the CofC standards so am pleased to hear this is being thought of strategically. If we can improve the robustness of the TC brand and have the CofC as the only accrediting agency, and get more houses to accredit - this would create something of a revenue stream and longer term footing for CofC. There are several if's in there - but I would be supportive of this as a direction of travel. Lets chat off list whether there is anything I can do to help.. Regards Richard ---------------------------- Richard Phillips ---------------------------- 2009/1/28 sarah <[log in to unmask]> > We would welcome that Richard. > > We are in the process of developing accreditation for TCs in the UK which > would establish those that are fulfilling the highest standard of TC > practice. There would be considerable scope for these TCs to provide > placements for emerging TCs. This would provide a valuable service (and > potential income) if the model were to become widely accepted in the UK. > > At a recent meeting Wendy and Rowdy agreed to write a short article > summarising the evidence for TCs and their preferred status in some > countries for publication in "trade mags" here in the UK. > > As with all TCs in the UK they have to secure their position within the > commissioning framework and may need to go down routes aligned with more > traditional services but there is a danger that the TC will become relegated > to a philosophy rather than a professionally regulated treatment programme. > > We have to drive up the profile of TCs in the UK and encourage other > services to adopt the model. CofC is a useful tool to do this but as with > all things there is considerable need for funds. Maybe the EFTC and CofC > should apply for joint funding to do a re branding/marketing exercise in the > UK? > > Sarah > > Sent using BlackBerry(R) from Orange > > ------------------------------ > *From*: Richard Phillips > *Date*: Wed, 28 Jan 2009 06:54:32 +0000 > > *To*: <[log in to unmask]> > *Subject*: Re: [EFTC] Potential UK members > > Hi Rex / all > Obviously one would need to be careful about how to approach the legal > issues, but I do think this matters a great deal - certainly within my > experience of the UK. > > With all the challenges faced by Rehabs in general, TC's have a great > strength and a great vulnerability. The vulnerability is that programme > length tends to be longer, which given the effectiveness of short stay > programmes for some clients makes it harder to carve out the expensive > niche. > > The great strength of the TC is that the evidence base is robust and holds > up to scrutiny. > > This strength become watered down when you have most houses which call > themselves TC's using very little of the method. In one of the reviews (I > think NTA sponsored, but independently run) of Rehabs in the UK, Therapeutic > Communities fared poorly - but most of the houses were not TC's in the way > you understand it. If I remember rightly, the published report didn't > actually draw attention to this poor performance, as the authors understood > the vagueness of the term and understood that this would cause > misunderstanding. > > In general, addiction TCs in the UK don't have a terrific reputation. I > think this a combination of out of date perceptions of concept house, a lack > of understanding of the evidence base and finally that the term means > whatever you want it to mean. > > I didn't know the term was a registered trademark - personally I think this > is huge news. At the CofC I always felt we should be more proactive in > shaping perceptions of the TC brand, the fact that the term has legal > standing makes this much easier: > > My back of an envelope suggestion would be: > > > 1. To formally decide that the definition of an addictions TC is one > that meets the core standards. > 2. Then, begin to quietly promote this notion to all houses that call > themselves addictions TCs and educate them on the evidence base. Try and > convince some of the pseudo's them to become 'true' TCs > 3. Also promote the brand directly to commissioners, with a gentle > education campaign - produce a fact sheet with the evidence base and core > standards. > 4. Down the road, request those not meeting the core standards to stop > calling themselves TCs. > 5. Further down the road still, require them to not use the term. > > In my view, the future of addictions TCs is to be the dominant force in > the niche market of longer stay rehab. This will only be possible if the > brand has some meaning, which is currently hard to claim - at least in the > UK. > > The aim should be to reclaim the brand and give it value. > > Oh, and I would suggest there is huge merit in getting this well underway > before a change of government. > > I am hoping to attend Sarah's CofC event - I would be happy to prepare a > short discussion paper or something on these ideas if it is of interest. > > Can I check - do you have / registered for international trademarks? > > Many regards > > Richard > > ---------------------------- > Richard Phillips > ---------------------------- > > > 2009/1/27 Rex Haigh <[log in to unmask]> > >> Interesting... >> >> >> >> In CofC and ATC I'm proposing that the relevant organisations get together >> and claim 'Therapeuetic Community' as a trademark in UK (maybe elsewhere >> later). >> >> So if scruffy non-TC places used it the organisations could legally >> challenge it. (Italian MH TCs would love to be able to distinguish >> themselves from any-old residential care homes) >> >> >> >> Will needs lots of work, particularly herding the cats. >> >> May not be worth it, but probably worth talking about it. >> >> See www.ipo.gov.uk >> >> >> >> Rex >> >> >> >> *From:* Therapeutic Communities [mailto: >> [log in to unmask]] *On Behalf Of *Richard Phillips >> *Sent:* 27 January 2009 17:29 >> *To:* [log in to unmask] >> *Subject:* Re: [EFTC] Potential UK members >> >> >> >> Rowdy said: >> >> >> a number of these services describe themselves as TCs >> >> >> >> Unfortunately, in many cases this is the only thing they have in common >> with TC's >> >> >> >> This is a big issue for addictions TC's that they are hard for purchasers >> and clients to distinguish from those that use the label but know or care >> little of the TC method. In my view, the Community of Communities project >> should seek to reclaim the name through the standards work and push for the >> term to have meaning.. >> >> >> >> perhaps an issue for discussion at the CofC day? you know it is a >> hobbyhorse of mine Rowdy! >> >> >> >> Regards >> >> >> >> ---------------------------- >> Richard Phillips >> ---------------------------- >> >> 2009/1/27 Rowdy Yates <[log in to unmask]> >> >> The latest issue of Drink and Drugs News – a free UK trade journal – >> includes a directory of UK residential services. (It also includes an >> interesting article on the barriers to residential treatment in the UK. >> >> >> >> You can download a PDF copy of the magazine (including the directory) >> here: >> >> >> >> >> http://www.drinkanddrugsnews.com/magazine/9bc447645d9a4d55b7563573039ccf52.pdf >> >> >> >> By the way – EFTC members please note – a number of these services >> describe themselves as TCs so as part of the EFTC 2009 campaign to increase >> membership, I will be writing to them asking them to join the Federation! >> >> >> >> >> >> *Rowdy Yates ** >> Senior Research Fellow >> Scottish Addiction Studies >> Sociology, Social Policy & Criminology Section >> Department of Applied Social Science >> University of Stirling* >> >> *E:** [log in to unmask]* >> >> *W:** **http://www.dass.stir.ac.uk/sections/showsection.php?id=4 (home)** >> ** http://www.drugslibrary.stir.ac.uk **(library)* >> >> *T: **+44(0)1786 – 467737 >> **M: **07894- 864897* >> >> >> ------------------------------ >> >> Academic Excellence at the Heart of Scotland. >> >> The University of Stirling is a charity registered in Scotland, number SC >> 011159. >> >> >> *********************************************************************** >> This message may contain confidential and privileged information. >> If you are not the intended recipient you should not disclose, copy >> or distribute information in this e-mail or take any action in reliance >> on its contents. 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