MAT Standards Within Homelessness
17 February 2025
MAT Standards – Connection Cafes
By Craig Bell, Practice and Partnership Lead – Harm Reduction Team.
Working for Simon Community Scotland, I’m constantly reminded of the immense challenges that people experiencing homelessness face, especially when it comes to their health and wellbeing.
The introduction of the Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) Standards was a crucial moment for the field. As the Practice and Partnership Lead, I’ve been fortunate in my role to make sure that we’re helping our staff and those we support understand these standards and how they can make a real difference in improving equity and access to treatment, whilst also emphasising our person-centred approach that focuses on individual needs and goals. Today we publish our report which reflects some of the real life experiences of people trying to access treatment and care while also experiencing homelessness. This work was driven by a gap in knowledge, understanding and access.
DOWNLOAD OUR MAT Standards within Homelessness report
The statistics can be heartbreaking: in 2023, the National Records of Scotland reported that 1,172 people died due to substance use with opiates/opioids, including heroin, morphine and methadone, implicated in 80% of them. These numbers are not just statistics to my colleagues and I – they represent people: someone’s friend, family member, partner and people we support on a daily basis.
A key principle of the MAT Standards is that they are rooted in Human Rights and promote a supportive, non-judgemental and non-stigmatising environment. We are working to ensure that this work is supporting wider thinking about taking a human rights based approach – supported by the recent publication of the Charter of Rights for People Affected by Substance Use. This is essential because people who use substances often face a range of complex challenges: trauma, poverty, homelessness and mental health struggles to name a few.
It’s not just about a person receiving treatment, it’s about making sure this treatment is accessible, compassionate and holistic. That’s why I’ve been so passionate about my role which allows me to train, support and empower our staff and the people we support; however, it is much more than just sharing this information, it’s about fostering a deeper understanding and confidence in advocating for healthcare rights and access to services.
What’s been particularly rewarding for me is the emphasis on co-production in everything we do. When we create resources and training materials, they aren’t just created by us in isolation, they’re co-produced alongside people navigating treatment and care! This is crucial because it ensures that the materials are not only practical but also accessible and relevant to people’s circumstances. By involving people we support in the creation process, we’re making sure that the resources we provide truly meet their needs.
The results of this collaborative approach have been amazing. The resources we’ve created: Informative flyers, Posters, Interactive resources are more engaging and helpful than I ever could have imagined, but it’s not just about the materials themselves. These have acted as tools to support people to advocate for themselves and for their rights within treatment.
Within our report you will read our experience of sitting alongside people, who are navigating treatment and care services, and hearing their real-life experiences through open and honest conversations. A central element of this project was paid opportunities to share experience and help shape solutions. This was invaluable in helping to gain a true understanding of the landscape of treatment and help highlight the significant gaps in care that still need attention.
During one cafe someone said “I’m going to use these standards so I’m not treated like a 2nd class citizen, cause I now know I do have rights!” and this stuck with me and deeply influenced my perspective, reinforcing the importance of continuing to improve awareness and access to treatment and support.
One of the things that I’m particularly proud of is that our work in this area is being constantly reviewed. Since the role is CORRA funded, it’s important for us to assess its impact regularly. We gather feedback from both staff and the people we support through surveys and informal conversations and this feedback loop is essential for ensuring that our training and resources are as effective as possible. Our aims through this project have been to create an environment where people experiencing homelessness have the knowledge, resources,and support they need to navigate healthcare, including MAT, and ultimately improve their lives.
For me, this role has always been about more than just the MAT standards, it’s about making those standards work for real people who are dealing with real, often overwhelming challenges. At the end of the day, my job is to help create a space, alongside many others, where people experiencing homelessness are treated with dignity and respect and have access to the healthcare they deserve.
Every day, I’m motivated by the belief that we can make a difference. It’s not just about the statistics; it’s about the people behind them and it’s an honour to be part of a team that’s working so hard to bring about change.
To access our co-produced MAT Standards resources, please use the following links below:
MAT interactive resource (genially)