If our service is right for you, we’ll offer you an appointment for an assessment, either by telephone or in person, at one of our clinics in Surrey. Once this has taken place we will develop a plan to provide the right care for you.
The type of support we offer includes one-to-one or group counselling sessions, recovery support, needle exchange, Hepatitis B vaccination and Hepatitis C testing. We also support you if you are dependent on alcohol and want to make some changes but do not wish to stop drinking.
Treatment to reduce drinking
We offer up to six 30-minute telephone sessions with an NHS alcohol specialist to those looking to reduce their alcohol intake.
Telephone-based alcohol support sessions
We offer up to six 30-minute telephone sessions with an NHS alcohol specialist to help people reduce their alcohol intake and prevent problems from escalating.
These sessions are for ‘increasing risk’ and ‘higher risk’ drinkers – those who drink more than the recommended limit, but are not dependent on alcohol - who want to cut back.
You can refer yourself for these sessions by contacting us on 0300 222 5932, 9am - 5pm Monday – Friday, or by completeing our online referral form on the 'Getting Help' page.
You can check your drinking levels by completing the DrinkCoach Alcohol Test drinkcoach.org.uk/alcohol-test
This is an anonymous online survey to help you spot the signs of problem drinking. If the survey highlights drinking at risky levels, you will be advised to contact i-access for further support.
Support groups
To attend one of our support groupsplease keep to your keyworker.
Abstinence preparation
This group offers support to individuals who are physically dependant on alcohol and wish to consider achieving and maintaining abstinence as their goal. It helps people to stabilise their drinking and regain some control.
Non abstinence
This group is for people who are not ready or do not want to become abstinent from alcohol, but would like to gain more understanding of how alcohol effects them personally.
It will enable you to make an informed decision as to whether you want to stop drinking dependently and we will support you through this process.
Peer mentoring
Peer mentoring provides additional support to individuals who are focused on recovery from addiction. It is a mutually supportive relationship between two people built on empathy and shared personal experiences.
The peer mentors are volunteers with the i-access service and at some point have been through treatment for addiction. They have received specialist training to support individuals with their recovery and treatment.
Typically a mentor will work with individuals for up to six months - but it may be less depending on the goals of the person.
The type of work a mentor may do with someone could include:
- Assisting with attending a group (this does not include driving to or from)
- Motivational work such as setting goals to look at where someone wants to be and how they can make steps towards this
- Care navigating to other services
- Housing and benefits issues
- Employment / volunteering options
- Filling out forms
- Developing reduction strategies for substances
If you are interested in becoming a peer mentor or working with a peer mentor as part of your recovery plan please speak to your key worker.
Recovery cafe
The Recovery Café is a social hub for people who are in recovery from drug or alcohol addiction. It provides a safe place to socialise, meet with staff and other people who are in recovery.
Relapse prevention
This group is for individuals who are abstinent from drugs or alcohol and is designed to support them to maintain abstinence. It also helps people to address issues that may impact on their recovery, share ways of coping with cravings and urges and support each other in a safe environment.
SMART recovery
The Self Management And Recovery Training programme helps people to recover from any type of addictive behaviour. The groups are run at many locations across Surrey; some are run by i-access staff and some are run by individuals who are in recovery themselves.
To find out more visit www.smartrecovery.org.uk or download our flyer containing dates, times and locations.
Women's group
This is a female only group which aims to create a safe environment with boundaries in which women can explore issues relating to addiction and other presenting issues.
It provides a place to share experiences and to identify behaviour processes common in abusive relationships, and to gain insight into these.
The group helps individuals to develop new coping strategies which can reduce the need for using drugs or alcohol.
Detoxification services
We offer several types of detoxification.
Home detoxification
You will receive home visits from a nurse who supervises your detoxification using medication. Regular physical health checks will be provided as well as support for your family.
Community detoxification
You will attend regular appointments with a qualified worker who supervises your stabilisation using medication, which will gradually reduce to zero.
Ambulatory detoxification
You will attend a clinic every week day morning to receive medication from a nurse as well as a support group which is run by a trained facilitator.
Inpatient detoxification
Anyone with complex needs who requires inpatient detoxification will receive their treatment at a specialist unit in Kent. Our staff arrange this and any aftercare takes place back in Surrey.