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The Protection of Children Standard
For procedures regarding smoking and alcohol, see Smoking and Alcohol Procedure.
Please also refer to Benecare’s Drug and Alcohol Abuse Policy.
Substances are defined as any substances, whether restricted or prohibited, which may have a harmful effect upon a child, such as:
alcohol, cigarettes, tobacco, aerosols, gas, glue, magic mushrooms (amanita), petrol, solvents and all controlled substances such as amphetamines, barbiturates, cannabis, cocaine, hallucinogens, hashish and heroin.
It also includes psychoactive substances which can cause a very similar range of problems to the drugs which they mimic, including a risk of dependence developing with repeated use. Some appear to be more dangerous even than the traditional drugs they mimic.
For procedures regarding smoking and alcohol, see Smoking and Alcohol Procedure.
See: Frank - new psychoactive substances and Frank – Drugs A-Z.
See also: Frank Drugs and the Law.
All reasonable measures must be used to reduce or prevent children from obtaining controlled drugs or other substances which may harm them.
If it is known or suspected that children are obtaining products, which may harm them, whether off the streets, from dealers or traders of any kind, the manager and social worker must be informed and a strategy adopted to reduce or prevent it.
This may include engaging or involving the supplier, if it is safe to do so.
If the problem persists or is serious, relevant specialists or bodies, including Trading Standards or the Police, should be informed.
Medical Emergency: See First Aid, Remedies and Medication Procedure.
Managers must ensure that aerosols, gas, glue, petrol and similar substances are only used for the purpose they were designed for; and that all reasonable measures are taken to restrict their use to staff and children who are known to pose no risk to themselves or others if they have access to them.
The arrangements for the obtaining, storage and use of these substances in each home must be outlined in the Staff Handbook and Children's Guide or individual children's Placement Plans.
Further procedures are provided in First Aid and Medication Procedure re:
Under no circumstances may controlled drugs and substances, other than those prescribed by a medical practitioner, be permitted in any Home.
The manager of each home must ensure that information, guidance and advice on the risks associated with harmful drugs and substances are available to all children in the home.
Additionally, any child known or suspected to be at participating in drug or substances misuse activities must be provided with the following:
The strategy should state whether, and in what circumstances, the Police will be notified.
If it suspected that a child is misusing controlled or harmful drugs or substances and no Strategy exists to reduce or prevent the behaviour, the Manager of the home and relevant social worker(s) should be contacted and an agreement reached on how to proceed; this will include whether the Police will be notified.
If there are immediate risks, which make it impractical to contact the manager or social worker, staff should take what actions are immediately necessary then inform the manager and social worker(s) at the first opportunity.
The actions that staff take will be dependent on the circumstances and the degree of offence or injury that is likely, but staff must be mindful of the following:
See the following additional chapters:
No further action, beyond making the situation safe and attempting to confiscate harmful drugs or substances, should be taken without a manager's authorisation, preferably in consultation with the relevant social worker.
However, the staff should undertake the following if a manager is not available within a reasonable timescale:
When safe to do so, the manager and relevant social workers should be notified and a decision reached on the actions/measures, which should be taken. This should include whether the Police should be notified.
Any incidents must be notified immediately to the Home's Manager and the relevant Social Worker notified within 1 working day.
Serious incidents e.g. if the Police or other emergency services are called, must be notified to the Designated Manager (Drugs) and consideration given to whether the incident is a Notifiable Event, see Notification of Serious Events Procedure.
All incidents must be recorded in the Home's Daily Log and relevant child's Daily Record.
An Incident Report must also be completed.
The child's Placement Plan should be reviewed with a view to incorporating strategies to reduce or prevent future incidents.
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