In this section

• Substance Misuse Screening and Referral Pathway
• How to refer
• What to include in the referral
• What if the young person refuses
  to see a substance misuse worker?
• Referral outcomes

Substance Misuse Screening and Referral Pathway

If going through the screening process leads you to the conclusion that further support or specialist assessment is necessary, you will need to refer the Young Person to see a Drug and Alcohol worker at SHED.

Most young people will need considerable support and encouragement from you to help them access the specialist support that they need. It is not enough to simply write down the SHED phone number and expect the young person to make contact, as experience tells us this will usually not happen, even when the young person has serious problems and does want help.

Points to remember:

• The young person should be fully aware that you are making the referral.
• The young person should be involved in the decision and should be willing to see a substance misuse worker.
• You should have the young person's consent to share the information you have gathered in the screening process with a substance misuse worker.
• You do not need parental permission to refer a young person to the SHED service. However children and young people should be encouraged, on an ongoing basis, to discuss their substance use with their parents and carers wherever possible.
• You should make a record of when you made the referral and why.