CASUS, casus, Cambridgeshire child and adolescent substance use service,

CASUS

casus logo

CASUS is the Countywide Young People’s Substance Misuse service, a multi-disciplinary team of 10 practitioners, a therapy dog and a student therapy dog. The team is made up of Social Workers, Nurses, Counsellors, Specialist Substance Misuse Practitioners, Youth Justice Workers and are overseen by a Consultant Psychiatrist.

CASUS offers help and advice to young people (up to 18 years) who are getting into difficulties around substances, we are a friendly, professional and kind team, and we always try our best to support young people with their goals.

The CASUS team works across Cambridgeshire (not including Peterborough) providing both direct specialist support and harm minimisation advice to young people and family members/carers. We work with young people on an individual basis but can also provide support/interventions to groups depending on need. The team use an eclectic mix of CBT tools, Motivational Interviewing techniques and other evidence-based models to inform our work.

Information for young people

Welcome to CASUS – Support for Young People in Cambridgeshire

You've found us! We're CASUS, the local NHS service supporting young people in Cambridgeshire who are using substances, including alcohol & we support young people affected by others’ use of substances. If you live in Peterborough, click here to find your local service.

What we do

We’re here to help if you’re using substances to cope, to feel better, or to fit in.

We understand that sometimes substances can feel like the only thing that helps – but we also know that it’s not a long-term solution. That’s where we can help.

We support young people to explore what’s going on underneath – the feelings, thoughts, and experiences that might be leading to substance use. Most of our work is linked to things like low mood, anxiety, and stress.

We know that if somebody close to you is using substances including alcohol this can be worrying and lead to feelings of loneliness or questions about why? We can also help you to understand more about this and feel supported – you do not have to use substances yourself to access this support.

How we work

We’ll meet you where you feel most comfortable – that could be at school, college, home, or somewhere else in the community.

You might just want to meet us once, or we might meet regularly over a longer period – your choice.

However, it looks, the first step is the most important one – reaching out.

We know what really makes the difference which is the connection we build with you. That’s our promise.

We will support you around your mental health & substance use as we know very often the two go together.

You will remain in control of your treatment journey & nobody else needs to know you are seeing us – we are a confidential service.

Need to talk?

If you’d like someone to talk to confidentially, or just want some advice, you can text us on 07842 300803 and we will get back to you as soon as we can (Monday to Friday 9am-5pm).

In a mental health crisis?

If you need urgent mental health support outside of our hours (Monday to Friday, 9:00–17:00), please contact the First Response Service (FRS) by calling 111 and selecting option 2.#

Feedback from young people about CASUS

“Thank you very much for all of your help. You have been a big part of my journey and guided me through dark times. Thanks to your help I have come out the other side and will always be grateful for your help”

“I truly couldn't thank you for honestly saving my life, without the best team I wouldn't have made it this far into recovery so thankyou. I hope that every kid that struggle gets a team like I did you’re all life savers “

“I would just like to say I have appreciated you so much but I just don’t think I need it anymore but I still want to make sure I have you there if I ever need to talk to you because you have been there through it all and made an impact on my life in a positive way. Thank you for everything you have done for me and I’m so grateful for you always. This is making me so sad saying goodbye but its for the best xx”

“I am always understood and free to speak without feeling judged or guilted. I always walk away feeling happy and listened to”.

Meet The Team

casus team photo

Dr Dickon Bevington - Consultant Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist

Bernie Constable - Team Manager, Senior Mental Health Nurse and EMDR Therapist

Laura Hutson - Senior Substance Misuse Practitioner

Michael Chouler - Senior Substance Misuse Practitioner

Sam Davies - Senior Substance Misuse Nurse

Veronica Jacquard - Senior Substance Misuse Nurse

Jacqui Akasha - Substance Misuse Practitioner

Jacqueline Harmitt - Substance Misuse Practitioner

Mike Bell – Substance Misuse Nurse

Lisa Chapman - Business Support Administrator

Ivy - Therapy Dog

Daphne - Student Therapy Dog

Referral information & Forms

Referral Criteria

CASUS provides information, support, and specialist treatment for young people under eighteen years of age, living in Cambridgeshire, to address alcohol and or drug use. Confidential information and support can also be provided to the families of these young people.

Alcohol and drugs include all prescribed and over the counter medication as well as illegal substances, solvents/volatile substances, and New Psychoactive Substances. This does not include tobacco – for support with tobacco use please contact the appropriate GP or visit www.smokefree.nhs.uk

CASUS accept self-referrals. Referrals from parent/carers and professionals for individual work with young people under eighteen are also accepted. All referrals to CASUS must have consent from the young person.

Completed referrals should be sent to CASUS by e-mail casus@cpft.nhs.uk

CASUS welcomes the opportunity to discuss potential referrals prior to the completion of formal documentation. Please call the team on 01480 445316, and the duty practitioner will call you back.

Referral Criteria – CASUS Stepping Stones Pathway (formally COSUP)

CASUS can provide information, support, and specialist interventions for young people under eighteen years of age, living in Cambridgeshire that are affected by another’s substance use such as parents, carers, siblings, partners.

CASUS accept self-referrals, referrals from parent/carers and professionals for individual work with young people under eighteen.

Referrals for Stepping Stones Support can only be accepted with consent from:

Just the young person if they are aged 13 years or older
The young person and at least one parent/guardian/carer who holds PR

CASUS offers one-to-one support for young people, tailored on a case-by-case basis. Where direct work with a young person may not be the most appropriate option, for example due to age, circumstances, or wider needs, CASUS can offer structured consultation. This involves working alongside an existing trusted professional to support the young person indirectly, ensuring their needs are still addressed safely and effectively.

CASUS welcome the opportunity to discuss potential referrals prior to the completion of formal documentation. Referrals can be made on the referral form below. Referrals should be sent to CASUS by e-mail casus@cpft.nhs.uk.

CASUS are happy to deliver services in community settings as well as young people’s homes, subject to risk assessment. Our working hours are Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm.

All referrals received will be triaged on the same day and allocated shortly afterwards. We will liaise with referrers regarding appointment time and location and will share information as appropriate and necessary, with the young person’s consent.

The Stepping Stones pathway offers an 8-session programme delivered over 16 weeks, focusing on the following areas:

1. Introduction and assessment

2. Understanding emotions

3. Support networks and safety planning

4. Self-care and coping strategies

5. Building confidence and resilience

6. Ongoing support and resources

7. Reflection

8. Discharge from CASUS with onward referral as appropriate

CASUS will provide onward referrals to other support services such as Centre 33 Young carers, Centre 33 (Generic), Emotional Health and Wellbeing Service, Locality teams, and any other services which may be of further support to the young person and offer positive diversionary activities.

CASUS community referral form 2023.docx [docx] 194KB

CASUS Stepping Stones referral form.docx [docx] 80KB

CASUS YJS referral form 2023.docx [docx] 196KB

Request for CASUS training

We are uniquely positioned to deliver engaging and informative sessions covering:

Current drug trends and substance specific information
The impact of regular substance use on the developing brain
Challenging misconceptions about substances as a way to manage mental health
Safety planning and harm minimisation around substance use

Our offer includes:

Delivery of training around local drug trends and the impacts of substance use – these are delivered with the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Local Safeguarding Partners
Bespoke professionals training for the children’s workforce in Cambridgeshire
Flexible delivery options: in-person, online, or a blended approach
Educational sessions for vulnerable groups of young people (identified as being at higher risk of substance use)

Additional services: