Substance Misuse Prevention worker for Youth Offending Service

10 August 2009

Youngsters and their families who are working with the local Youth Offending Service (YOS) can now benefit from a brand new service aimed at providing support to prevent alcohol and other substance misuse.

Funded by the Safer Caerphilly Community Safety Partnership, a Prevention– Substance Misuse Worker has been appointed to work with young people and their families who come into contact with the Youth Offending Service.

Cabinet member for the environment, Cllr Lyn Ackerman said, "This extremely valuable addition to the Youth Offending Service's team will mean that a much more holistic service can be delivered to those that require it.

Research suggests that young people in the youth justice system tend to use illegal drugs earlier and in larger quantities than other young people – it also suggests that young people may become involved in crime in order to fund their substance misuse.

Therefore, the importance of having this brand new service available at the YOS to help prevent this occurring in the first place cannot be emphasised enough."

The Prevention - Substance Misuse Worker delivers the service to young people who fall into one or more of the following groups:

• Young people who have received a Final Warning from the police for a criminal offence
• Young people who have signed an Acceptable Behaviour Contract
• Young people who have an Anti Social Behaviour Order, and are receiving mentoring services from the YOS via the Promise Project
• Young people (aged 8 to 13 years of age) who have been referred to the Caerphilly Youth Inclusion Support Panel

The Safer Caerphilly Community Safety Partnership is a multi agency organisation, whose five statutory partners are Caerphilly County Borough Council, Gwent Police, South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, Caerphilly teaching Local Health Board and Gwent Police Authority. It works to reduce levels of crime, disorder, anti-social behaviour, substance misuse and fear of crime in the local area.

For further information, please contact the local Youth Offending Service on 01495 235 623.