GamCare has expanded its problem gambling treatment programme and training beyond Great Britain, establishing its ‘Trained Associate Model’.

The model functions as a framework for non-GB organisations to receive training from GamCare on the delivery of support for people experiencing gambling-related harm.

Included in the training is information regarding GamCare’s ‘Model of Care’- a clinical framework for treatment provision- as well as the tools needed for problem gambling treatment. 

The first charitable organisation to receive the training is Motiv8, an Isle of Man-based substance misuse group which is expanding the remit of its services to cover problem gambling, as well as drug and alcohol abuse. 

Thea Ozenturk, Motiv8 CEO, said: “We are delighted to move to this new relationship with GamCare as it keeps Motiv8’s team at the forefront of delivering best practice interventions in the treatment of gambling disorder for the benefit of locally affected individuals and their families.”

GamCare detailed that the Trained Associate Model is open to any organisation which operates social support services such as counselling, mental health treatment, or health and substance misuse guidance in non-GB areas. 

“The package is aimed to help these teams develop their services to provide support for gambling for anyone who needs it,” the charity explained.

In order to become a trained associate of GamCare, interested applications must be ‘deemed suitable’ by the organisation following initial discussions, followed by a due diligence exercise. 

The group explained that this process is designed to ensure an organisation has the right clinical skills and governance to deliver gambling harm minimisation and support services.

Once securing their position as a Trained Associate, charity’s retain their independence and do not subcontract to GamCare, holding responsibility for their own data, governance and risk management with regards to gambling support. 

GamCare currently provides 161 treatment centres across Great Britain, providing treatment to over 10,000 people between 2020 and 2021, detailing earlier this month that 85|% of professionals improved their understanding of gambling harms after participating in training sessions.