Blue Light Training - Working effectively with change resistant drinkers

The Blue Light Approach has been developed in partnership with Public Health England and more than 60 local authorities across England and Wales; and has won two major national awards: The Guardian Public Health and Wellbeing Award 2019 and the Royal Society for Public Health Healthier Lifestyles Award 2019.

Blue Light Training is built on five key elements:

• Changing professional attitudes
• Improving professionals’ skills
• Developing referral pathways and building multi-agency case-management systems
• Ensuring alcohol services have an appropriate response to the Blue Light client group
• Supporting the appropriate use of legal powers with this client group.

“The one thing you can do more than any other is to demonstrate that you believe the person can change… At times this will be tough – some clients seem set on a course that will destroy their lives or the lives of others. However, people do change. Even people who seem to have abandoned all hope of a different life can turn themselves around.”

- The Blue Light Manual, 2014

Who should attend Blue Light training?

This is essential learning for both alcohol services and those who work in non-alcohol specialist settings but encounter people with problematic drinking in the course of their work. It is especially relevant in health, social care, housing and homelessness services or the criminal justice system.

Course Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Identify clients who need support
• Understand the rationale for attempting to intervene with this client group
• Understand in greater detail the physical and psychological effects of alcohol
• Use the 'assessing barriers to change' framework
• Understand the range of techniques available for use with this group, including risk management, nutrition and harm reduction approaches
• Understand the legal powers available to manage this client group, including the new anti-social framework
• Formulate a realistic intervention plan

About the Trainer

Susan Laurie is the in-house trainer for Alcohol Change UK, author, and mental health advocate specifically relating to alcohol issues and alcohol dependence. Following university, she had a successful career in marketing in the pharmaceutical industry and was then an entrepreneur with her own company before succumbing to a serious drinking problem. This escalated to a life-threatening situation despite many attempts at familiar interventions, including counselling, rehab and Alcoholics Anonymous.

After her recovery, she authored the book ‘From Rock Bottom To Sober Forever’, which has provided inspiration and hope to thousands of people and has been praised for the exceptional account of the stealth-like progression of addiction.

She is committed to helping anyone who is struggling with alcohol and to helping organisations develop practical and non-judgemental resources and support for employees who may be concerned about their drinking. She uses her personal experience to educate the wider population about the reality of the impact that alcohol can have on a person and is passionate about breaking down the stereotypes and removing the stigma associated with alcohol dependence, which can deter people from seeking help.

Susan contributed to the House of Lords Commission on Alcohol Harm and has written blogs for the Alcohol Health Alliance and Alcohol Change UK. She is a frequent guest on alcohol related podcasts and recently hosted a meeting for Public Policy Exchange where MPs and experts on alcohol harm discussed alcohol dependence and misuse. She was also recognised as a ‘Woman of The Year’ in 2020.