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

How to refer

The SHED service is commissioned to count a referral from the time that they have a two-way contact with the young person. This means a SHED worker speaking to the young person directly, either in person or over the telephone, to confirm the referral, or SHED receiving a letter, email voicemail or text message from the young person confirming the referral. This system is to ensure that substance misuse workers do not waste resources chasing up young people who might have been inappropriately referred, have been referred without their consent, or where the referral contains incomplete information.

The easiest and quickest way to make a referral to SHED is as follows:

• Make sure you are with the young person
• Contact SHED by telephone and speak to the duty worker
• Pass on the referral details
• Allow the young person to speak directly to the duty worker to confirm the referral
• Get an appointment time for an initial meeting, or arrange a further contact to confirm an initial appointment.

Alternatively you might accompany the young person to the SHED office to make a referral in person or call in at the SHED drop in between 2pm and 5pm on Tuesdays to Fridays.

Once the referral has been made by telephone and an appointment arranged you can send any further information with the young person's consent.