Teenage Pregnancy Unit Best Practice Guidance

on the provision of effective contraception and advice services for young people

This guidance recommends that:

• Services should be planned in consultation with young people.
• All services should have an explicit confidentiality policy which young people are made aware of.
• A non-judgemental attitude to young people is an essential criterion in recruitment.
• Services should be provided in non-clinical and comfortable environments, in a location that is easily accessible to young people.
• Services should be open at times that are convenient to young people, eg after school and weekends.
• At a minimum services should be able to provide: condoms; hormonal contraception; including emergency contraception; pregnancy testing and non-judgemental advice; referral for NHS abortion services and antenatal care; and staff trained in counselling skills.