Young people accessing support or treatment for alcohol and drugs: standards - November 2025

6. Glossary

Safety: The physical, psychological and emotional safety of people using services.

Trustworthy: Transparency exists in an organisation’s policies and procedures, with the objective of building trust among staff and young people, by:

• the organisation and staff explaining what they are doing and why
• the organisation and staff doing what they say they will do
• expectations being made clear and the organisation and staff not overpromising

Choice: Young people are supported in shared decision-making, choice and goal setting to determine the plan of action they need to heal and move forward, by:

• ensuring young people have a voice in the decision-making process
• listening to the needs and wishes of young people
• explaining choices clearly and transparently to young people
• acknowledging that young people who have experienced or are experiencing trauma may feel a lack of safety or control over the course of their life which can cause difficulties in developing trusting relationships

Collaboration: The value of staff and young person experience is recognised in overcoming challenges and improving the system as a whole, by:

• using formal and informal peer support and mutual self-help
• the organisation asking young people and staff what they need and collaboratively considering how these needs can be met
• focussing on working alongside and actively involving young people in the delivery of services

Empowering: Efforts are made to share power and give young people a strong voice in decision-making, by:

• validating feelings and concerns of young people
• listening to what a person wants and needs
• supporting young people to make decisions and take action
• acknowledging that young people who have experienced or are experiencing trauma may feel powerless to control what happens to them, isolated by their experiences and have feelings of low self-worth