Innovation in Substance Misuse Services: the contribution of the health care assistant

This article describes the unique developing role of the health care assistant within a statutory substance misuse service in North West Wales. The main focus of the paper is how the evolving role of the health care assistant has contributed to the enhancement of services delivered to intravenous (illicit) drug users. The first author is the only health care assistant employed by the Substance Misuse Service and was a voluntary worker prior to appointment within the trust. A description is given of how the ‘mould’ was broken. An explanation of how this came about reflects the innovative changes that have been facilitated by a management style resulting in a better quality of service provision. The role is still developing within the service but to date has been instrumental in the generation of sustainable innovation within the service. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.