AA1 Recognise indications of substance misuse and refer individuals to specialists

Overview

This standard covers recognising signs which may indicate that someone - an employee, colleague, co-worker, customer, student or anyone else you come into contact with during your work - may be misusing drugs (illegal, prescription or over the counter), alcohol, solvents or other substances.

Users of this standard will need to ensure that practice reflects up to date information and policies.

Version No 1

Knowledge and Understanding

You will need to know and understand:

1. the importance of keeping full and accurate records, and how to do so
2. the importance of providing full and accurate information, and how to do so
3. the principle of confidentiality: what information may be given to whom
4. legal and organisational requirements and policies requirements relevant to the functions being carried out
5. the importance of monitoring the situation regarding an individual’s misuse of substances, and how to do so
6. how to assess the risk to individuals and to others from their substance misuse
7. the importance of regularly reviewing risk assessments
8. the range of different substances and their effects
9. the range of different indications of substance misuse: physical, behavioural and information provided by the individual or from other sources
10. other factors which produce indications that may be interpreted as caused by substance misuse
11. ways of keeping your knowledge about substances and indications of substance misuse up to date
12. how to investigate situations in order to make a reasonable judgement about substance misuse
13. sources of assistance about substance misuse
14. substance misuse specialists, and procedures for referring individuals to them
15. the range of actions you can take when individuals may be misusing substances, and how to decide what action is appropriate
16. the rights of individuals with whom you come into contact.

Performance Criteria

You must be able to do the following:

1. regularly update your knowledge about the range of substances which may be misused and the possible indications of substance misuse
2. remain constantly alert to possible indications of substance misuse by those with whom you come into contact
3. investigate situations sufficiently to allow you to make a reasonable judgement about whether individuals are misusing substances
4. obtain specialist assistance where you are unable to make a reasonable judgement about whether individuals are misusing substances
5. where individuals are not misusing substances, you help individuals understand how indications may be interpreted
6. assess the risk to the individual and to others which may result from substance misuse and take prompt action appropriate to your assessment of risk
7. regularly update your knowledge about appropriate specialists for the range of substances and the procedures to follow when referring individuals
8. refer individuals to specialists in line with organisational requirements
9. respect individuals’ rights and the requirements of confidentiality
10. provide specialists with complete and accurate information about the situation in line with organisational requirements
11. monitor the situation and regularly review your assessment of the risk to the individual and to others which may result from substance misuse
12. take appropriate action in the light of changes to the situation and level of risk
13. the action you take is in line with legal and organisational requirements
14. record situations and actions taken in line with organisational requirements
15. provide information about situations and actions taken only to those entitled to have it

Additional Information

This National Occupational Standard was developed by Skills for Health.

This standard links with the following dimension within the NHS Knowledge and Skills Framework (October 2004):

Dimension: HWB2 Assessment and care planning

This standard has replaced HSC362.