This plan will evidence the work that will be undertaken in Bristol during 2009/10
to contribute to achieving the ambitions of key governmental drivers regarding
young people’s substance misuse. This work will specifically contribute to PSA
25, reducing the harm caused by alcohol and drugs, and PSA 14, increasing the
number of young people on the path to success. It will evidence actions towards
achieving contributions to national indicator 40, which records the increase in
numbers of drug users in effective treatment and national indicator 115-
substance misuse by young people, which is included as a priority within Bristol’s
Local Area Agreement.

The Drug Strategy Team (DST) and Safer Bristol are committed to delivering a
full range of substance misuse treatment, targeted prevention and universal
services to young people regarding this issue. This provision is strategically
planned and commissioned by the Young People’s Delivery Group (YPDG). This
has close links with Children and Young People’s Strategic Commissioning
Group within Bristol City Council. The YPDG is informed by the Young People’s
Manager’s Meeting (YPMM) and Worker’s Forums consisting of partners,
providers and other stakeholders from across the city. There are also service
user consultation groups within commissioned agencies that further advise
regarding the commissioning and planning processes. Through this
commissioning structure we endeavour to commission and provide support to
Bristol’s young people’s substance misuse agencies in line with the NTA’s
Essential Elements Guidance. This year’s strategy aims to further build on these
commissioning arrangements to ensure that Bristol has integrated, needs led,
outcomes focussed commissioning arrangements in place to meet the identified
needs of young people in the city.

These commissioning arrangements have led to the development of what are
now clearly established and integrated young people’s substance misuse
agencies in the city. This year’s needs assessment evidences how the
establishment and development of these services and the development of strong
strategic links with universal young people’s services has led to a significant
increase in the number of young people engaged by specialist services across
the city.

In order for these services to be further integrated into wider children and young
people’s provision it is a priority to build on the challenge of PSA 14 to further
develop how specialist services fit with Bristol’s Youth Matters agenda, Children
and Young People’s Services commissioning and Locality Governance planning,
and Common Assessment Framework Locality Panels.