LCS Consultancy

Lindsey Smith

Lindsey Smith has 25 years’ experience of working in the field of Drugs and Alcohol as a front line worker, consultant and trainer and is a recognized expert in the field.

 

Youth Worker

Lindsey started his working life supervising disadvantaged young people. He found that his approachable open personality and empathy meant much of his time was spent as a mentor, listening and advising his young team and that this support made a difference. Since then Lindsey has continued to work with Youth People both as an employee and volunteer and became a qualified Youth Worker in 1998. He has been a Street and Centre based Worker and developed Youth Community Projects, specializing in Drug and Alcohol work. This enabled him to develop a good understanding youth culture, changes in drug use and associated problems.

 

Support Worker

Lindsey wanted to use his experience as a young person of street gangs, criminal activity, drugs, dealing, addiction, prison, support, recovery and life change to help others in similar situations. He studied in The Maudsley & Bethlem Royal Hospitals Drug Training Unit and Lewisham College gaining qualifications in Working with Problem Drug Users and Counselling. Over the next seven years whilst with Drugline Brockley Cross and NHS Northwest Kent Drug & Alcohol Team he worked in and then led outreach, centre based and frontline services. This work allowed him to successfully help many clients through to a drug free life. It also meant he worked in some of the most isolated, violent and challenging environments and was able to engage and understand user-groups and developed a deep knowledge of cultures, location, method & drugs of choice.

 

Educator

As a Drugs Worker Lindsey saw the need for better education of children and young people on substance misuse. When working for the NHS he developed and delivered an education program to schools in the Kent area and for the next 20 years he continued to deliver effective education in schools throughout South East England in both the public and private sector.  

 

Trainer

After leaving the NHS Lindsey went on to design and deliver Training to a wide range organizations in the public, private and voluntary sector, including the Police, Armed forces and safety critical businesses.  He has provided expert training to all levels of staff from PCSO’s to Chief Constable, Service Personal to Officer Level. Apprentices to CEOs. He is an excellent trainer which can be seen in all his evaluations. He is qualified in Preparation for Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector (Petals) and is one of a few operatives to teach practical live drug exercises.

 

 

Researcher and Advisor

Lindsey realized that there were holes in police and service providers’ intelligence and understanding of drug culture. He knew he could help to provide them with the up-to-date and accurate information, information that was vital to ensure good law enforcement and effective service provision. Working with Police Forces in the UK & worldwide, Lindsey pioneered crime mapping and was able to use these methods to map drug & drug related activity for agencies such as the Essex Drug and Alcohol Action Team to help them to successfully target resources. He also developed the foundation of the Ipswich Intelligence Model, living homeless for three months over winter to fully understand the culture of substance misuse and homelessness. Working for the Ministry Of Defence he mapped and delivered intelligence briefings on the risk from drug and drug related activity on deployments and supported the development of services to support the welfare of personnel and their families. As a freelance drug advisor with an understanding of the philosophy and agendas of diverse agencies he uses a hands on approach, working with communities and forming partnerships to identify areas of problematic drug use and assess design & implement tier 1&2 provision.

 

Expert

As a recognized expert on substance misuse Lindsey has Co-Authored Drug-wise-Street-wise, been an advisor to FRANK and Crown Expert Witness. He also raises the profile of drug problems and services through media including factual documentaries, news items, TV & radio and articles in the national press.