Abstract
The Inverclyde Resilience Network was developed in early 2020 in response to the 2019 Hard Edges Scotland report. This report highlights the impact of multiple disadvantages on a person’s life chances, which is particularly relevant within Inverclyde’s local context. Inverclyde is a small local authority in the West of Scotland which is home to a number of negative statistics related to the health and wellbeing of its residents. According to the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) 2020, Greenock Central is the most deprived area in Scotland. Similarly, National Records Scotland reported in 2019 and 2020 that Inverclyde has the third highest drug-related deaths per 1,000 residents. To help the people of Inverclyde build resilience and foster hope, CVS Inverclyde partnered with the Community Justice Lead Officer from Inverclyde Health and Social Care Partnership to create the Inverclyde Resilience Network.
The network, hosted by CVS Inverclyde, offers a space for cross-sectoral collaboration, knowledge exchange and partnership working to collectively support resilience in our community. There are almost 90 members from third sector organisations, public sector partners, local faith-based groups and education and has strong links with Inverclyde Alcohol and Drug Partnership, Inverclyde Cares and Inverclyde Community Justice Partnership. Together the members developed 13 Areas of Impact, which are closely aligned with the social determinates of health. This living document offers a themed map of work happening across Inverclyde which increases our understanding of local services, identifies gaps in provision and presents potential opportunities for partnership working.
Launched weeks before the first UK-wide lockdown, the Inverclyde Resilience Network quickly became the vehicle to coordinate the third sector’s response during the pandemic and provided the pathway for sharing public health information with partners. The multigenerational disadvantages were still present in Inverclyde; however, this was compounded by the financial, social and emotional impact of the pandemic. Communities needed resilience more than ever before. The frequency of meetings has changed in response to the stage of the pandemic and the needs of the community. Meetings are themed and have included topics such as Naloxone and drug-related deaths, strength-based conversations and the importance of self-compassion. Community and workforce resilience are at the heart of the chosen topics.
Some of the outputs of the network have included a 4-episode podcast from the Spirituality Area of Impact, focusing on loss, hope, kindness and belonging. Small groups of professionals and community members came together to discuss their experiences of each topic. Additionally, the Inverclyde Resilience Network and Areas of Impact demonstrate a Recovery Oriented System of Care (ROSC) in action, with extensive reach able to offer support in all aspects of people’s lives. Although a ROSC is traditionally associated with drug and alcohol recovery, the network recognises the value of a person-centred, integrated approach regardless of the reason people engage with services. Finally, the network will host an anti-stigma event in 2022, bringing together different strands of work to explore collaborative approaches to reducing the negative influence stigma has on the opportunities and inequalities in Inverclyde.