Norfolk Young People's Drug & Alcohol Service
The Matthew Project is delighted to announce it has won the contract to deliver a new integrated drug and alcohol service for young people under 18 across Norfolk. The service will be delivered in partnership with Trust Alcohol and Drug Service (TADS).
The new service will begin operation on the 1st October 2009 and will combine part of the work of The Matthew Project Youth Team, the T2 service and the Impact treatment service (part of Children's Services) to offer young people a diverse range of drug and alcohol interventions across the county which will include:
- School lessons and assemblies focused around drugs and alcohol
- Outreach and informal education on the Voicebox caravan
- Group work in Pupil Referral Units and targeted settings
- One to one support and brief interventions
- Counselling and other psychosocial interventions
- Information, advice and specialist harm reduction
- Health assessments and treatment including prescribing
- Support for professionals working with young people e.g. school teachers
- Support for parents and carers including regular awareness sessions
The service will be delivered by 3 teams based in King's Lynn, Norwich and Great Yarmouth with workers also operating in the north and south of the county, helping to improve access to drug and alcohol services for young people.
A single point of contact will be advertised soon to enable young people, parents and carers to access advice and support 24 hours a day. As well as offering a 24 hour telephone helpline, a daytime text service will be available for young people to ask questions or send in comments and feedback about the work we are doing.
The central administration base will be at the newly developed OPEN youth venue in Norwich. Integrating with other young people's services will be an important aspect of the new service and there will be a strong focus on links with the five Children's Services areas across the county.
Another element of the new service will be a strong focus on working with the whole family. Young people with family members who use substances will be supported and parents and carers whose children are using substances will also be supported. This may mean that a young person sees one worker in the service whilst a parent is supported by another worker.
Professionals working with young people will also be able to receive information and support. Workers in the new service will provide consultations with professionals seeking advice about how to support young people with substance misuse issues. Any professionals wishing to refer a young person into the new service will have to do so by using the Common Assessment Framework or CAF form as the service will be unable to accept referrals by telephone.
The Matthew Project has been working with young people across Norfolk for many years and is recognised by young people as being at the forefront of drug education, prevention and support for drug and alcohol related issues. Our young people's teams reach over 20,000 young people each year in schools and local communities. Our aim is to build on the work that has been accomplished by The Matthew Project Youth Team, T2 and the Impact treatment service (Children's Services) over the last 5 years and to make the new service a resource that really makes a difference to young people and their families in Norfolk.
For further details please contact Graeme Stewart on graeme@matthewproject.org or call The Matthew Project on 0845 868 8172.
