Substance Misuse and Safeguarding Children

If you are worried about a child or young person who is misusing alcohol or drugs, or you are a young person and you would like some support to either stop taking drugs and alcohol or reducing use and the impact these have on your life then support is available from Islington Young People’s Drug and Alcohol Service (IYPDAS).

IYPDAS work with young people aged 12 to 21 years old (up to 25 years if Child Looked After (CLA) or experience moderate learning difficulties or Special Educational Needs or are Disabled) and provides a range of targeted interventions with young people including treatment and care plans, group session and 1-1 work. We will meet with the young people and complete an assessment, then agree how we can work together to address the substance misuse concerns. We also provide training to professionals and advice to parents and carers.

To discuss a referral or talk to someone about getting support please email YCSMAS@islington.gov.uk  or call the TYS duty manager on 0207 527 5099.

If you think that a child/young person is in immediate danger you must ring the police on 999.

If you think that a child/young person whose parent/carer has drug and/or alcohol misuse problems is at risk you must make an immediate referral to Islington Children's Services Contact Team on 020 7527 7400 or out of hours 0207 226 0992 (5pm-9am Monday- Friday, Weekends and public holidays). For non-urgent referrals please complete a Request For Service form and email to csctreferrals@islington.gov.uk.

A young carer is a child or person under the age of 18 who provides regular emotional or practical support to a family member or friend with a long-term illness, disability, mental health problem, or substance misuse problem. Their responsibilities can vary widely, from assisting with personal care and household tasks to providing emotional support, and can significantly affect their own health, education, and social life.

Islington Young Carer's can be supported by the Children's Society,

Their approach is centred on the young person and their needs, but can work with the whole family to help build on their existing strengths, skills, and relationships. The support is flexible and individual. Working with each young person from the outset to assess their needs. Support may include: 

• delivering direct one-to-one sessions, tailored to the individual young carer 
• offering advice and information in-person, by phone, and online
• helping young carers and their families to access other relevant support
• mediating with other services on behalf of young carers and their families
• group sessions covering topics like homework, wellbeing, and peer support
• one-to-one and group support for young carers impacted by parental mental illness. 

They also work with professionals and others to raise awareness of the challenges many young carers are facing and help them to understand how they can better support young carers in setting like schools or family hubs.

How to access the Islington and Camden Young Carers service

•  For more information or to get help from the service, please call  0207 8414445 or email icyc@childrenssociety.org.uk.
• Children's Society is based at Whitecross Studios, 50 Banner Street, London EC1Y 8ST 

Substance Misuse and Safeguarding Children Courses for all staff and volunteers working with Islington's Children and Families