To receive an update on the Young People’s Drug and Alcohol Service.

The Cabinet Member for Children’s Services - Councillor Bye, Director of Children’s Services - Nancy Meehan and the Youth Hub Manager – Jessica Tucker, provided an overview of the submitted report regarding the Young People’s Drug and Alcohol Service and responded to questions.  Key points included:

·        Positive progress following new arrangements, with improved young people’s engagement;

·        Working towards a target of 130 young people;

·        Part of a wider focus on early relationship-building with young people;

·        Team expanding from 2 to 3 workers (June), strengthening delivery;

·        Partnership with the College supporting access and coordination;

·        Ongoing work to maintain engagement and shape next steps, informed by young people’s views; and

·        Recognising increased summer risk, with Public Health collaboration to promote safety messages.

Members asked questions in respect of the following:

·        Was the data on the age and gender profiles of young people receiving treatment locally compared with national data?

·        How did the service engage with young people who were not in school?

·        Were alternative locations available for young people who might not have felt comfortable engaging within the home?

·        Why were there no referrals from Checkpoint, and how could communication have been improved with partners such as paediatrics?

·        How common was the use of opioid substitute treatment among young people?

·        Did opioid use include both heroin and prescription medication?

·        Was a 33% conversion rate into structured treatment in line with expectations?

·        How did the service respond to referrals that were not appropriate for structured treatment?

·        Would future reports include comparative data over time?

·        Why were referrals not consistently received through GPs or paediatrics, particularly where young people had presented at emergency departments?

·        Could future updates have included detail on alternative pathways into support?

·        How was co-production with young people being used to shape the service?

·        How were services adapted to support children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)?

·        How did the service consider neurodivergence in relation to substance use?

The following responses were received:

·        The data formed part of ongoing analysis, with early indications suggesting identifiable patterns within the local cohort;

·        Engagement with young people who were not in education remained a significant challenge.  As they could not be accessed through school settings, practitioners undertook outreach work, including home visits;

·        The service worked with partners, including the Youth Justice Team and community organisations, to provide neutral and familiar spaces for engagement;

·        Discussions with paediatrics services were scheduled, and opportunities to strengthen partnership working with Checkpoint were explored, including at joint events to improve communication and referral pathways;

·        This was currently uncommon, with very few cases locally.  However, there had been a shift in substance use trends towards synthetic and mixed substances, and work was underway with health partners alongside preventative activity;

·        Opioid use included both heroin and prescribed medications;

·        This was consistent with national benchmarks.  Work was ongoing to improve conversion rates through a personalised, relationship-based approach, although some referrals were not always appropriate;

·        All referrals were followed up.  While performance measures focused on structured treatment, wider engagement remained important, with  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4

To receive an update on the Young People’s Drug and Alcohol Service.