Compass began life in 1986 as a drug resource scheme, filling a gap by providing ‘walk in’ services for people experiencing problems with drugs – needle exchange, wound care, counselling, advocacy and support with housing and employment.
Quite a lot has changed in the intervening years. But the essentials of understanding people’s needs, creating motivation to change, removing barriers and developing solutions to long-term problems has remained constant.
You can trace how we’ve evolved here, on our timeline…
2022
Establish mental health early intervention pilots for children and young people with autism and those involved in youth justice.
2021
Positive Effective traded offer expanding. this includes DfE funded training for Senior Mental Health Leads, TfL mental health training.
Integrating specialisms within MHSTs (bereavement, peer healthy relationships) Implement our Mental Health Support Teams in schools service.
2020
Change name to ‘Compass – Services to improve health and wellbeing’ to reflect the breadth of services delivered
2019
Expand school nursing service to deliver targeted and structured weight management programme for children, teenagers and families.
Launch Positive Effect trading arm to support workplace and school wellbeing through training, consultancy and action
Establish a school readiness pilot with health and early years’ partners.
2018
Launch highly innovative universal mental health in schools service, delivering training and consultancy to help staff provide early help support to pupils.
2017
Pioneer a new integrated risky behaviours service providing clinical and psychosocial interventions across multiple lifestyle behaviour strands.
2015
Pioneer an innovative public health focused school nursing service.
2013
Develop our first young people’s early intervention service.
2012
Develop our first young people’s risky behaviours service.
2001
Deliver our first specialist young people substance misuse service.
2000
Began delivering substitute prescribing.
1999
Deliver CARATs services in 60% of prisons in England and pioneer court outreach services.
1999
Establish a structured day programme offering employment training, life skills and leisure activities.
1998
Develop the CARATs (Counselling, Assessment, Referral, Advice and Throughcare) model with the Home Office.
1997
Changed name to Compass.
1996
Pioneer throughcare services for prisoners with drug misuse problems.
1994
Start providing treatment services to drug users in GP practices.
1992
Open one of the first non NHS community substitute prescribing schemes.
1986
York Drug Resource Scheme is formed.