In this section

• Getting the consent of the young person
• Involving parents and carers
• Not Involving Parents or carers
• Substance Misuse Screening and Confidentiality
• Substance Misuse Screening and Child
  Protection concerns
• Substance Misuse Screening and Common Assessment

Substance Misuse Screening and Confidentiality

Each agency should ensure all policies and procedures on confidentiality address substance use and misuse.

Before you go through the screening for substance misuse a young person should be aware of what you might do with the information that they tell you. This should include how information they give might be shared with other
professionals, and how it may be used to access services to help them.

• You cannot assure absolute confidentiality. The younger the child, the more problematic it is to maintain confidentiality.
• Restate your confidentiality policy during the course of work. It is likely that the young person will start to build on the trust that you have established. They may start to disclose information not previously known; it is therefore recommended that you reiterate the confidentiality policy where necessary.
• If a young person tells you they have been using substances, or that they intend to carry on using substances, you are not
  automatically legally obliged to pass this information on to the police. However, you should discuss with a supervisor, team leader or manager any serious concerns: - if you become aware that, for example, a serious crime might be committed. Your agency will have a policy for dealing with such situations.