Our Drug and Alcohol Awareness Training course equips professionals working with children and young people with essential knowledge to recognise and respond to substance use. It also explores the risks of exposure due to geographical and locality factors, as well as peer influence. This comprehensive face-to-face training covers the signs and symptoms of drug and alcohol misuse, the physical and psychological effects of substances, and the broader risks associated with addiction, exploitation, and safeguarding concerns.
By completing this course, your team will develop the skills to identify risk factors, intervene early, and provide informed guidance and support to those at risk. Participants will also gain a deeper understanding of relevant UK legislation, harm reduction strategies, and effective communication techniques to engage young people in meaningful conversations about substance use.
This course is ideal for care professionals in residential, supported living, or youth service settings, combining practical and theory-based learning to ensure a comprehensive understanding of drug and alcohol-related risks, effects, and intervention strategies.
Course Description
Our Drug and Alcohol Awareness Training course equips professionals working with children and young people with the knowledge and skills needed to identify, understand, and respond to substance use concerns effectively. By completing this course, your team will gain the ability to:
- Understand Drug and Alcohol Terminology
Develop a clear understanding of the key terms related to substance use, improving communication and confidence when discussing these issues. - Identify Signs and Symptoms of Substance Use
Recognise the behavioural, physical, and psychological indicators of drug and alcohol use, allowing for early intervention and support. - Explore the Effects of Drugs and Alcohol on the Body
Learn how different substances impact physical and mental health, including short-term and long-term effects on behaviour and well-being. - Understand Legislation and Classifications
Gain insight into UK drug laws, classifications, and the legal responsibilities of professionals working with young people. - Recognise County Lines, Grooming & Exploitation Risks
Understand how young people may be exploited through substance-related criminal activity and learn safeguarding strategies to reduce risk. - Develop Effective Communication Strategies
Enhance your ability to have open, non-judgmental conversations about substance use, enabling trust and positive engagement. - Assess Risk and Protective Factors
Explore the environmental, social, and psychological influences that contribute to substance use, and learn how to build resilience in young people. - Respond to Substance Use Concerns with Confidence
Understand the appropriate steps to take when concerns arise, including escalation procedures and support pathways. - Recognise the Link Between Tolerance, Dependence & Withdrawal
Gain insight into the cycle of addiction, helping you to identify and support those at risk of developing substance dependencies. - Understand the Impact of Binge Drinking
Learn about the risks associated with binge drinking, including its effects on health, behaviour, and decision-making. - Explore Treatment and Support Options
Gain an overview of treatment pathways, including detoxification and recovery services, to help guide young people toward appropriate support.
Compliance and Quality Assurance
Our Drug and Alcohol Awareness Training course is developed in line with government guidance, Ofsted standards and recognised frameworks to ensure the highest standards of care, professionalism, and compliance. For this course, we align with the following frameworks:
- The Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015
This regulation underpins our training, ensuring it supports safe, effective, and child-centred care practices within children’s homes. By aligning with these standards, we help your organisation meet the regulatory requirements for providing high-quality care and fostering positive outcomes for children and young people. Learn more (opens in a new tab). - Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards
Our training integrates principles from this guide to promote therapeutic care approaches that meet the emotional and developmental needs of children. By reflecting quality standards, we equip care staff with the tools to create supportive, nurturing environments that foster resilience, security, and growth. Learn more (opens in a new tab). - Positive Environments Where Children Can Flourish – Guidance
Our training incorporates the principles outlined in this guidance to help care staff create nurturing, supportive spaces where children feel safe and valued. By focusing on fostering positive relationships and promoting emotional well-being, we equip your team with strategies to build environments that enable children to thrive and achieve their potential. Learn more (opens in a new tab).
Why Compliance and Quality matter:
- Compliance with Regulatory Standards: Training content is developed in line with Ofsted and other relevant frameworks, helping your organisation maintain compliance and demonstrate excellence.
- Promoting Best Practices: Framework-aligned training ensures your team applies evidence-based methods, fostering a culture of professionalism and respect.
- Continuous Improvement: We embrace the principles of continuous improvement encouraged by these frameworks, incorporating them into our training to promote reflective practice and ongoing development.
Delivery of the Training
This course will be delivered by an expert trainer in this field at a date and time of your choosing. Training can be hosted at our own premises, which can comfortably accommodate up to 12 individuals, or at your own premises if feasible and required. We are flexible on start times to help accommodate all shift patterns, including evenings and weekends.
Customisation and Relevance: We can adapt the content of this training to include your organisation’s core values, mission, policies, and procedures. By incorporating examples of documents used within your organisation, we ensure that the training is relevant and clear to your staff.
Expertise and Support: Delivered by expert trainers with extensive experience in the field, our courses provide comprehensive knowledge and skills to your team. To help your team stay updated and compliant, we can provide additional refresher courses designed to ensure that staff remain proficient in best practices. These refresher courses can be scheduled as needed to maintain high standards of care.
Please use our enquiry form or contact us by telephone if you have any queries about this training course or would like to express an interest to schedule your training. A member of our team will be happy to answer any questions.
Course Materials and Certification
All course materials will be provided, and refreshments are included. Certificates will be issued upon completion of the course, and you will receive copies of completed evaluation forms for your records.
Our Facilities
- Disability access building
- Ground flood training facilities (at request)
- Comfortable classroom lecture/study environment
- Toilet & Washrooms inc. disabled access
- Refreshments provided
- Location: Our training centre is based in Middleton, Manchester, UK. For precise directions, click here to view us on Google Maps (opens in a new tab)
Pricing and Duration
- Time required: Half a day
- Accommodates: Up to 12 people
- Price: £275
Suggested Refresher Frequency
To ensure ongoing competence and performance:
- Monitor and assess staff performance regularly.
- Evaluate knowledge and skills at least annually.
- Provide additional learning and development opportunities as needed, with mandatory refreshers at least every 2 years.
Benefits of Our Training
Why Choose Us?
- Expert Trainers: Learn from experienced professionals who are passionate about care.
- Comprehensive Content: Our training covers all essential aspects of each topic, ensuring your staff are well-prepared to provide high-quality care and support in their specific area of practice.
- Quality Assurance: Our courses meet the highest standards, ensuring compliance with all relevant frameworks, guidelines, and legislation specific to each course.
- Flexible Delivery: Choose from face-to-face sessions at our training centre or your premises, with training available at times to suit all shift patterns.
- Customisable Training: Tailor the course to reflect your organisation’s unique values and requirements.
- Refresher Courses: We offer refresher courses to keep your team proficient in up-to-date and best practices.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- What is Drug and Alcohol Awareness Training, and why is it important
This training provides essential knowledge and practical skills to help professionals working with children and young people identify, understand, and respond to substance use concerns effectively. By increasing awareness of drug and alcohol-related risks, the course supports early intervention, harm prevention, and safeguarding, ensuring that young people receive the appropriate guidance and support.
- Who should take the Drug and Alcohol Awareness Training course?
This course is ideal for care professionals, support workers, educators, and anyone working with children and young people in residential care, schools, youth services, or community settings. It is suitable for both new staff members and experienced practitioners looking to enhance their knowledge and skills in substance awareness and intervention.
- What will I learn in the Drug and Alcohol Awareness Training course?
Participants will develop a comprehensive understanding of substance use and its impact. The training covers recognising the signs and symptoms of drug and alcohol use, understanding their effects on physical and mental health, and exploring key risk factors, safeguarding concerns, and exploitation risks such as County Lines and grooming. Participants will also learn effective communication techniques to engage and support young people, gain insight into UK drug legislation and classifications, and develop an understanding of addiction, withdrawal, and available treatment options.
- How long is the Drug and Alcohol Awareness Training course?
The course is delivered as a half-day (3–4 hours) training session, combining theory-based learning with interactive discussions and practical application.
- Can the Drug and Alcohol Awareness Training be customised to meet our organisation’s needs?
Yes. We can tailor the training content to align with your organisation’s policies, procedures, and the specific challenges your team faces. This ensures that the learning is directly relevant to your setting and enhances its practical application.
- Do you offer any follow-up or refresher training?
Yes, we offer refresher training to help teams stay up to date with the latest guidance and best practices. Regular refresher sessions ensure that staff retain key knowledge and maintain confidence in handling substance-related concerns.
- Where can the Drug and Alcohol Awareness Training be delivered?
The course can be delivered at our training facility or on-site at your organisation, depending on your preference. We offer flexible scheduling, including evenings and weekends, to accommodate shift patterns.
- What is the maximum number of participants in a training session?
To ensure a high-quality learning experience, each session can accommodate up to 12 participants. This allows for interactive discussions and personalised support from the trainer.
- Will I receive a certificate after completing the Drug and Alcohol Awareness Training?
Yes. All participants will receive a certificate of completion, which can be used as evidence of continued professional development (CPD) and compliance with training requirements.
- How often should my team refresh their Drug and Alcohol Awareness Training?
We recommend refresher training every 1–2 years to keep staff updated on emerging substance use trends, changes in legislation, and best practices for intervention and support.
Enquiry Form
At Complete Training, we understand that choosing the right training provider is an important decision, and we’re here to support you every step of the way. Your enquiry is important to us, and we want you to feel completely at ease reaching out to us.
Rest assured, there’s absolutely no pressure here. Feel free to ask us anything. We’re here to provide you with the information you need, without any obligation to commit.
