What services are available?
Glasgow City Youth Health Service take a holistic approach to care. This means that we try to support the young person with all aspects of their health, rather than focusing on just one.
Most of the help we provide comes under one of the following categories; however we recognise that being healthy can mean different things to different people and our health can be affected by many different factors. We will often link with other services across Glasgow City to offer a wide range of support.
Mental Health
We take a preventative approach to mental health – this means we will provide young people with coping strategies to help them deal with life’s challenges in a more constructive way.
We can offer short-term support with difficulties such as stress, anxiety and low mood. This may take the form of sessions with our Lifelink Counsellors or other mental health support such as group sessions.
Sexual Health
We can offer support with contraception including implant insertion and removal, emergency contraception, contraceptive injection and contraceptive pills. Pregnancy testing and advice and Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) testing are also available at the Youth Health Service.
Free condoms are available at all our venues.
Multiple Risk
Our Multiple Risk Workers are here to support young people to make positive choices and changes and improve their resilience. This could be to do with peer pressure, substance use, gaming or any other risky behaviours.
The Multiple Risk programme is provided by our partners includem and uses their “A Better Life” toolkit which includes topics such as health and wellbeing, offending and risk-taking behaviours. Sessions take place over several weeks and involve activities to create a personal development plan and work towards goals set by the young person. The activities used in the programme are tailored to the young person’s learning style and interests to ensure their support is personalised.
One to one appointments are available in each of our venues with our Multiple Risk Workers, with potential for appointments in the community, where appropriate.
Weight Management
Weigh to Go weight management service is available in some of our Youth Health Service venues and open to young people aged 12-18 years who are overweight (BMI 25+) and want to lose or manage their weight.
Those aged 18 years and over should seek referral to NHSGGC Weight Management Services
Young people who meet the criteria for the service can access free support from our Weigh to Go Nurses and Slimming World membership.
Where is the Youth Health Service?
The Youth Health Service operates Monday-Thursday evenings at health centres throughout Glasgow City. Select any of the venues below for directions.
Mondays
Easterhouse Health Centre
9 Auchinlea Road
G34 9HQ
6.30pm until 9.00pm
Pollok Health Centre
21 Cowglen Road
G53 6EQ
6.30pm until 9.00pm
Tuesdays
Drumchapel Health Centre
80/90 Kinfauns Drive
G15 7TS
6.30pm until 9.00pm
Elderpark Clinic
20 Arklet Road
G51 3XR
6.30pm until 9.00pm
Wednesdays
Shettleston Health Centre
420 Old Shettleston Road
G32 7JZ
6.30pm until 9.00pm
Possilpark Health & Care Centre
99 Saracen Street
G22 5AP
6.30pm until 9.00pm
Thursdays
Maryhill Health & Care Centre
51 Gairbraid Avenue
G20 8FB
6.30pm until 9.00pm
New Gorbals Health & Care Centre
2 Sandiefield Road
G5 9AB
6.30pm until 9.00pm
Springburn Health Centre
200 Springburn Way
G21 2TR
6.30pm until 9.00pm
How do I make a referral?
We can accept referrals for young people who are aged 12-19 years, live in Glasgow City local authority or are registered with a Glasgow GP.
Young people can refer themselves or be referred by a teacher, school nurse, parent, GP or any other organisation working with young people. The only requirement is that the referral is discussed with the young person first.
To speak to our team or to make a referral, please phone 0141 451 2727 Monday – Friday, 8.30am – 4.30pm.
GP practices should use SCI Gateway to refer.
What should I expect at the Youth Health Service?
Attending an appointment
Go to the reception desk and tell our team member your name and appointment time. You don’t have to tell them what the appointment is about. If it’s the first time you’ve come to the service, there will be some information to read and registration paperwork to complete. We will take your details and you will be asked to sign an agreement form. At any time you can let us know what pronouns you prefer to use and we’ll make sure our team are aware.
You might notice that our waiting areas look a bit different to a normal health centre reception area. Some of our venues have dimmed lighting and music playing. We’ve set them up in this way to create friendly and relaxed environment and to help you feel comfortable.
If there’s anything we can do to make your visit easier, please let us know in advance if possible. All of our venues have a Hearing Loop system and we can provide an interpreter if you require support with spoken languages, British Sign Language or Deafblind communication.
Giving feedback or making a complaint
We hope you have a positive experience at the Youth Health Service but we recognise that we don’t always get it right. Your comments and feedback can help us to improve.
We have comment boxes in all our venues where you can give feedback.
If you want to talk to us about your experience you can either speak to a member of the team at one of our venues or phone us on 0141 451 2727.
Ideally we would like to deal with any complaints within the service. One of our team may be able to resolve the issue, but if this is not possible, you can contact our service manager by phoning 0141 451 2727.
In the event that the issue still isn’t resolved, there is a formal complaints process you can access through Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership.
Our values and vision
Our values underpin everything we do as a service and form the basis of what young people and their families should expect from us. These are trust, respect and listening without judgement. We commit to living out these values in the following ways:
- We will work in such a way that builds and maintains trust with young people.
- We will treat everyone fairly and with respect.
- We will listen without judgement.
Our vision articulates our purpose, our long-term goals and the way we will work to achieve our values:
“To improve the health and wellbeing of young people in Glasgow City with a focus on early intervention and prevention. To work with young people, their families and partner agencies to provide flexible, holistic support using a youth friendly model, and to help young people achieve their potential.”
We describe ourselves as an early intervention and prevention service; this means getting someone help before problems arise or things get worse.