Residential Rehabilitation Rapid Capacity Programme 2: guidance

Strategic context for RRRCP

The First Minister made a statement to parliament on 20 January 2021 which set out a National Mission to reduce drug related deaths. Increasing access to residential rehabilitation is one of the key priorities of the National Mission. This is backed by £100 million of the additional £250 million funding announced to support further investment in - and expansion of - residential rehabilitation and associated aftercare over the next five years.

The National Mission Funds are available until the end of 2025/26. Therefore, the RRRCP 2 allows for multi-year project delivery where appropriate in project proposals, recognising that some projects will take time to get up and running.

The RRRCP 2 is part of a wider commitment to residential rehabilitation (RR) which in 2022/23 includes £5 million direct support to alcohol and drug partnerships in order to fund placements, and develop pathways, in to, through and out of RR. In addition to this, we have committed to support further development of RR through the Corra Foundation administered Improvement Fund.

Projects supported by the RRRCP will reflect these following strategic areas of priority and core principles but most importantly will deliver on the National Mission Outcomes Framework:

• national mission to reduce drug related deaths and harms
• Rights, Respect and Recovery, our alcohol and drug treatment strategy 
• Alcohol Framework 2018 
• GIRFEC principles and values 
• reducing health inequalities

RRRCP 2 priorities

The priorities and focuses of the RRRCP have been informed by the Residential Rehabilitation Development Working Group and research undertaken by the Scottish Government.

According to a capacity mapping report (Feb 2021), the total estimated number of beds available in Scotland for the treatment of alcohol and drug addiction is 418.

In the survey, residential rehabilitation providers spoke of the need to secure funding for more significant renovation and or building work to make additional space for residents. They also said that funding was necessary to secure a new building and staffing resource as well as new community resources and facilities that specifically meet the needs of women and women who require childcare facilities. Surveys also found that access across Scotland is not even.

The following priorities have been identified for this funding cycle:

1. Improving equity of access across Scotland - discrepancies of provision in local areas create an uneven playing field and elements of a “postcode lottery”. Applications which address this inequity by taking a regional or national approach will be considered favourably.