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Effective Interventions Unit - Young people with, or at risk of developing, problematic substance misuse: A guide to assessment
Chapter 3: Who works with young people?
One of the challenges in planning and delivering treatment, care and support for young people with, or at risk of developing, problematic substance misuse is the number of different types of services likely to be involved. Generic services e.g. health, education and social care are likely to have continued responsibility for many young people, even when a substance misuse problem has been identified.
The balance between generic and specialist services is an issue to be addressed by DAATs and partner agencies engaged in the planning of services in their area (EIU 2003). However, given the range of needs and the number of potential outcomes for the young person, it is likely that a number of people across a range of providers will be have
a part to play, and an interest in, the conduct and outcome of the assessment process.
Agencies and service providers include: Education including schools, colleges, community education services Social Work - Children and Families Teams (including child protection), Youth Justice, services for looked after and accommodated children Health Services including primary care, CAMH teams Specialist substance misuse services Residential care Youth work services Children's Reporters and Panels Community based services including leisure, arts and diversionary activities Foster carers Volunteers
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There are risks of duplication on the one hand and young people 'falling down the gaps' on the other. All those who have a role in assessment also have a responsibility to ensure that the assessment process encompasses all the relevant interests at the appropriate time. Perhaps most important of all, the young person should not be able to 'see the joins'.
DAATs and partner agencies engaged in planning and commissioning, and
agencies and service providers engaged in assessment, need to consider the roles and responsibilities in assessment of agencies/service providers, both generic and specialist.
Issues for DAATs and partner agencies The
levels of assessment appropriate for different agencies/service providers The development of
protocols for information sharing and referrals Inter-agency training Mechanisms for
recording and collating assessment data to inform future planning
Issues for agencies and service providers Clarifying their role in assessment and making that clear to other providers Agreeing
who should carry out assessments Building relationships with other providers to improve information sharing Staff training, and participation in inter-agency training Recording of assessment data
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