Skills, capabilities and professional development: a response framework for mental health–substance use

The increasing occurrence of mental health–substance use is recognised to have reached a critical point in the ability of services to offer an effective and sustained response. Partial explanation of why individual experiencing mental health–substance use problems are challenging services can be explained by the lack of adequate preparation of the professional:

➤ technically – evidenced by the absence of specialist knowledge and skills

➤ organisationally – demonstrated by lack of collaborative working practices and integrated care systems.