What is SCAN?

The Specialist Clinical Addiction Network (SCAN) is a national network for UK addiction specialists. At present this includes Consultant Psychiatrists, Specialists Registrars and Associate Specialists who work in the field of addiction. Staff grade doctors in addiction psychiatry may be registered as affiliate members. SCAN's main aims are to provide support and promote networking to enable specialists to maximise treatment effectiveness.

SCAN is funded by the Department of Health and jointly supported by the Department of Health, the Royal College of Psychiatrists and the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse, but is independent of all three agencies. SCAN exists to serve its network of UK addiction specialists.

SCAN's funding requires that its focus is on specialists working in England. However, addiction specialists in the UK and the Republic of Ireland are welcome to join and will be able to make use of many SCAN resources.

From its inception, SCAN has consulted the field and listened to specialists' challenges and support needs first hand. SCAN carries out formal surveys on behalf of the field and uses the results as a guide to the development of the network. Further specialist input to the development of SCAN is provided through its Steering Group.

What does SCAN provide?

• Encourage best practice and knowledge-sharing within the field
• Support and advice on policy issues and local concerns
• Dissemination of material relevant to specialists including reports, research and guidance
• Supporting the role of the addiction specialist
• Opportunities for learning and networking
• Encourage mentoring within the field
• A means of communicating specialists' issues to policymakers
• A vehicle for policy consultations
• Facilitation of peer support and consultations

SCAN resources include:

Website - The SCAN website provides a virtual community for addiction specialists where they will find support, documents, policy updates, local information, a notice board and useful links. The website also has a discussion forum for members.

Newsletter - SCAN produces a quarterly newsletter, SCANbites, which includes articles, interviews, debate of current issues, and other information relevant to addiction specialists.

Meetings - SCAN supports regional specialist networks. SCAN can facilitate the development of new networks where needed.

Conferences - SCAN holds an annual national conference and co-organises an annual addiction psychiatry meeting for specialist registrars and newly appointed consultants.

Fellowships - SCAN provides a Travelling Fellowship Scheme in Service Innovation. This facilitates opportunities for addiction specialists to visit other addiction treatment services and research centres. The scheme receives applications biannually.

Consensus Projects - SCAN is promoting consensus on specialist treatment through a series of projects which aims to produce guidance to the field. This work is supported by the Department of Health.

Support, information and consultation - SCAN provides telephone and email support, email alerts of developments, consultations, and network building. SCAN also provides representatives to serve on national working groups (e.g. RCPsych, NICE, NTA, Home Office).

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