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SloughMulti-Agency Safeguarding Children Partnership Procedures

Children of Parents who Misuse Substances

AMENDMENT

In February 2023, a link to 'NICE Quality Standard QS 204 Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder' was added into Further Information.

Contents

  1. Definition
  2. Risks
  3. Indicators
  4. Protection and Action to be Taken
  5. Issues
  6. Further Information
  7. Local Information

1. Definition

Substance misuse refers to the abuse of drugs and/or alcohol. Whilst there may be different treatment methodologies for adults with these problems, they are considered together because the consequences for the child are quite similar. Substance misuse refers to both illicit drugs, alcohol, prescription drugs and solvents, the consumption of which is either dependent use, or use associated with having harmful effect on the individual or the community.

Many substance misusing adults also experience mental health  difficulties, which is described as Dual Diagnosis and there may be several agencies, from both Adult and Children's social care, who are working with the family.

National Serious Case Reviews and Domestic Homicide Reviews have identified domestic abuse, parental mental ill health and drug and alcohol misuse as significant factors in families where children have died or been seriously harmed.

2. Risks

Substance misuse can consume a great deal of time, money and emotional energy, which will unavoidably impact on the capacity to parent a child. This behaviour also puts the child at an increased risk of neglect and emotional, physical or sexual abuse, either by the parent or because the child becomes more vulnerable to abuse by others.'

Children's physical, emotional, social, intellectual and developmental needs can be adversely affected by their parent's misuse of substances. These effects may be through acts of omission or commission, which have an impact on the child's welfare and protection. Babies and newborns are extremely vulnerable as are children with disabilities and those in adolescence.

Children may be introduced to drug and alcohol misuse at an early age by the behaviour of the parents and the availability of the substances within the home. This increases the risk to the child of developing their own mental health concerns or behavioural issues which can in turn make them vulnerable to Substance Use, exploitation and offending behaviour.

All agencies need to work together in tackling the problems caused by substance misuse in families in order to safeguard children and promote their well-being. The emphasis on joint working focuses on the early help end of the Safeguarding Spectrum and work should, where possible, be more preventative than reactive.

Parents who misuse drugs and/or alcohol may be good enough parents who do not abuse or neglect their children. It is important not to generalise or make assumptions about the impact on a child of parental/carer drug and/or alcohol use. During contact with parents it is important to assess their willingness to acknowledge concerns and accept help and support which is paramount to safeguarding the child.

It is, however, important that the implications for the child are properly assessed having full regard to the parents/care givers ability to maintain consistent and adequate care while still using alcohol or substances.

Equal regard should be given to each and every child's level of dependence, vulnerability and any special needs.

Where there is concern that a parent is involved in substance misuse, the impact on the child needs to be considered, including:

  • Children can suffer chronic neglect, from before birth and throughout childhood;
  • The impact on newborn babies who may experience foetal alcohol syndrome or other drug withdrawal symptoms;
  • Low birth weight and newborn illness can add additional challenges to an already vulnerable new mum;
  • The child's physical safety when the parent is under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol;
  • Possible trauma to the child resulting from changes in the parent's mood or behaviour, including exposure to domestic abuse and lower tolerance levels in the parent;
  • The impact of the parent's behaviour on the child's development including the emotional and psychological well-being, education and friendships;
  • Complex needs presented by children with disabilities and the impact of reduced tolerance /resilience in the parent increases vulnerability of a child with disabilities. The extent to which the parent's substance misuse disrupts the child's normal daily routines and prejudices the child's physical and emotional development; school attendances, health and dental appointments;
  • The impact on the child of being in a household where illegal activity is taking place particularly if the home is used for drug dealing and the children may come in to contact with risky adults and criminality;
  • How safely the parent's alcohol and/or drugs and equipment are stored as children can be at risk of ingesting substances or injuring themselves on drug paraphernalia;
  • Children are particularly vulnerable when parents are withdrawing from drugs;
  • Dangerously inadequate supervision and other inappropriate parenting practices;
  • Being left home alone or with inappropriate carers;
  • Intermittent and permanent separation;
  • Inadequate accommodation and frequent changes in residence;
  • Children being forced to take on a caring role and feeling they have the responsibility to solve their parent's, alcohol and drug problems;
  • Ability to drive if the parent is under the influence of alcohol or substances due to dependency;
  • Impact of family breakdown;
  • The financial impact on the child of their parents' substance use.

The circumstances surrounding dependent, heavy or chaotic substance misuse may inhibit responsible childcare, for example, drug and / or alcohol use may lead to poor physical health or to mental health problems, financial problems and a breakdown in family support networks.

3. Indicators

There are many reasons why adults take drugs or drink alcohol. If doing so has negative consequences then it may be regarded as misuse. Parents may be aware that their behaviour has a negative impact on their child, there is a risk in focusing on the adult's difficulty and in supporting their attempts to control their behaviour. The real impact on the child can be overlooked or seen as a secondary consideration.

To be healthy and to develop normally, children must have their basic needs met. If a parent is more concerned with funding an addiction, or is under the influence of drugs or alcohol, they are unlikely to be able to achieve this consistently or prioritise their child over their need for a substance(s). A disorganised lifestyle is a frequent consequence of substance misuse. Parents may fail to shop, cook, wash, clean, pay bills, attend appointments etc.

Substance misuse may affect a parent's ability to engage with their child. It may also affect a parent's ability to control their emotions.

Severe mood swings and angry outbursts may confuse and frighten a child, hindering healthy development and control of their own emotions. Such parents may even become dependent on their own child for support. This can put stress on a child and mean they miss out on the experiences of a normal childhood.

Other consequences of substance misuse - lost jobs, unsafe homes (littered with half empty bottles or discarded syringes), broken marriages, severed family ties and friendships, and disruption of efforts made by a local authority to help - are also likely to negatively affect a child.

At times children are likely to be exposed to adults who are not appropriate and may pose a risk to them, due their own lifestyles and criminality (i.e. drug dealers)

Any professionals, carers, volunteers, families and friends who are in contact with a child in a drug / alcohol-misusing environment must ask themselves "What is it like for a child in this environment?"

4. Protection and Action to be Taken

Where there are concerns by practitioners involved with a family about a child living in the environment of substance misuse an assessment of the parent's capacity to meet the child's needs should take place to establish the impact on the child of the parent's lifestyle and capacity to place the child's needs before those of their own.

A referral to Children's social care in line with the Referrals Procedure should be made and the practitioners from adult services, or other relevant agencies (statutory and voluntary), should work in collaboration with Children's social care.

Where any agency encounters a substance user who is pregnant and whose degree of substance misuse indicates that their parenting capacity is likely to be seriously impaired, they must make a referral to Children's social care.

The majority of pregnant substance misusing women will have been identified by maternity services and referred to the Substance Misuse Team. The Care Planning Approach / Care Co-ordination Approach will apply including input from the link midwives and a social worker from Children's social care, who will be invited to any meetings taking place in respect of the child/ren.

Where a newly born child is found to need treatment to withdraw from substances at birth, an assessment and a pre-discharge discussion should take place and a referral to Children's social care should be made in line with the Referrals Procedure as soon as the need for intervention is identified.

Specialist Substance misuse services should be invited to and should attend and provide information to any meeting concerning the implications of the parent/care giver's substance misuse problems for the child, including Child Protection Conferences and Child in Need meetings.

There is a clear need to assess the impact on the child including the risk of neglect to older children as well as the wider family and community context. Some adult services may be reluctant to share information because of concern about confidentiality. However, the needs to safeguard children should be paramount and agencies with information regarding the parent will have a valuable contribution to make.

In these circumstances, practitioners should seek advice from the Safeguarding leads in their organisation, if they are unsure as to what information should be shared, or what action should be taken (see Information Sharing Procedure).

When practitioners make a decision to end their involvement with a parent/care giver with substance misuse difficulties, or a child who is living with a parent/care giver with substance misuse difficulties, they should always discuss their plans with the other services who are working with the family, before the case is closed. This is to ensure that any ongoing needs can be addressed. Concerns should be raised with statutory services if the parent is not actively engaging in specialist support to address their Alcohol or Substance Misuse concerns on discharge from services.

5. Issues

Parents' own needs will need to be addressed and supported. Sometimes access to appropriate treatment resources is limited which may cause delays in providing services however the child's needs must not be put on hold without a contingency plan.

Confidentiality is important in developing trust between drug using parents and staff in agencies working with them, in relation to their substance misuse. However, practitioners must always act in the best interests of the child and not prioritise their therapeutic relationship with the adult.

When a woman with a substance misuse and/or problem attends for antenatal care, she should be encouraged to contact the Substance Misuse Team for assessment and advice on the treatment options available to her.



Further Information

Adfam - Improving life for families affected by drugs and alcohol.

Al-Ateen - Alateen, for younger family members and friends, is a part of Al-Anon Family Groups.

The National Association for Children of Alcoholics (NACOA) - Providing information, advice and support for everyone affected by a parent's drinking.

Guidance: Parents with Alcohol and Drug Problems: Support Resources (GOV.UK)

NICE Quality Standard QS 204 Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder


Local Information

To follow.