My name is Stacey Miller and I have 16 years professional experience in the field of substance misuse and mental health working in a range of settings and with diverse client groups. I also have personal experience myself and through friends and family members. This real life understanding adds value to the training experience.
I completed a degree in Criminal Justice Studies with Psychology and whilst studying, I gained voluntary work with the then National Probation Service and a street needle exchange service. Though these roles I worked on domestic abuse programmes, with education and employment teams, homelessness and substance misuse.
After my degree I worked as a drugs and alcohol outreach worker in schools, colleges and youth centres. This job entailed much preventative and educational work with young people and parental support with the toxic trio of substance misuse, mental health and domestic abuse.
Moving on from this I wanted to gain experience working with adults and as a result, I secured a job at a Drug Intervention Programme as a Prolific and Priority Offender Co-ordinator which involved drug testing, group work, complimentary therapies, substitute prescribing and one to one work aiming to lead them to recovery.
Thereafter, I worked for Eastleigh Borough Council and coordinated the STAR (Start Tackling Alcohol Responsibly) project. The aim was to raise awareness of the consequences of drinking too much via education and campaigns on sexual health, crime, anti social behaviour, unhealthy relationships and mental health. During this employment I also chaired the Wessex Alcohol Research Collaboration which is made up of a lay expert panel whom help shape and advise on the alcohol research agenda within a clinical, public health and government agency setting.
I set up Stacey Miller Consultancy in 2012 at a time of recession and budget cuts but also at a time with a great need for quality education and training around positive wellbeing in the workplace. I am also a proud Time to Change champion, a member of the Rethink mental health charity, a member of the Solent NHS Trust and chair the Health and Wellbeing youth forum for Winchester and Test Valley.
During my career I have gained an invaluable insight to the complexities of drugs and alcohol, crime, mental health and domestic violence issues. I have undertaken extensive training including achieving the Drugs and Alcohol National Occupational Standards, mental health, sex and relationship education and safeguarding and child protection courses. I have also accomplished a level 3 award in education and training (formerly known as PTTLS) so not only do I know my stuff, but I am a great teacher and have a personality to go with it!