Smoking and Alcohol

Contents

1.	Smoking
	1.1	E-cigarettes/Vapes
2.	Alcohol

1. Smoking

Smoking is illegal in all enclosed public places and workplaces. This includes all East Riding of Yorkshire Council buildings and grounds including children’s homes. Every effort should be made to discourage smoking by children/young people who reside at the homes.

The home will provide children and young people with advice and support as necessary on good health. This information should supplement that provided by any educational setting, and should cover smoking and alcohol.

It is an offence for shops to sell cigarettes and tobacco product to under 18s or for an adult to buy cigarettes or tobacco products for them. Staff are not permitted to purchase or give cigarettes / e-cigarettes, tobacco, or the materials for making or lighting cigarettes or tobacco to children.

Some young people will already smoke before they become looked after. In working with this group of young people, staff will need tact, patience and creativity.

Addiction to nicotine and the withdrawal symptoms should not be underestimated or trivialised and any young person wishing to give up the habit should receive maximum support from all agencies.

Staff and visitors are not permitted to smoke in front of children.

1.1 E-cigarettes/Vapes

”The use of e-cigarettes among young people is rare and is almost entirely confined to those young people who  already smoke”.

See Public Health England - Independent Expert E-cigarettes Evidence Review.

It is an offence for shops to sell e-cigarettes to under 18s or for an adult to buy e-cigarettes for them.

The long term effects of vaping / E-cigarettes on health are unknown, but current research indicates that their use is significantly less harmful than conventional smoking, and that the use of e-cigarettes is currently the most popular tool used by smokers who want to quit.

However, if a young person indicates that they would like to try e-cigarettes as a way of giving up smoking, they should be encouraged to contact the LAC Nurse, their GP or local stop smoking services.

For more information please see Electronic Cigarettes - Evidence and Advice on E-cigarettes (GOV.UK).

2. Alcohol

All homes should be alcohol free zones; alcohol should not be brought or kept on the premises.

Alcohol is part of our culture and most young people at some stage will experiment with drinking alcohol. It is fair to say that at some point most children will push the boundary line and will get 'drunk'. Whilst not condoning this, staff have to be sensitive to the difference between youthful experimentation and reliance / addiction.

Health promotion should address the effects of alcohol and provide the children with an informed view on the subject. Good role modelling by staff is required when educating the young people regarding the use and misuse of alcohol, staff should be mindful when sharing information regarding their own personal consumption of alcohol in their private lives.

When any child/young person is known to misuse alcohol, staff should consult with the specialist services and actively support and encourage the child/young person to become involved in rehabilitation;

Staff should ensure that information relating to alcohol misuse is readily available within the Home and that the issue of alcohol misuse should be dealt with as a normal part of the work undertaken with children/young people, including regular discussion at Residents' and Staff Meetings.

Children under 18 are not allowed to purchase or consume alcohol.

If staff are concerned that a child/young person has been drinking alcohol, this should be raised with the home’s manager and the child’s social worker as required. Where it becomes evident, or it is suspected, that a child or young person has been drinking alcohol, the most appropriate response will vary dependent on how much the young person has had to drink or how it has effected them. These options are outlined below:

• Offering fluids - water, squash;
• Periodic monitoring and checks by staff - 10 minutes, 30 minutes, hourly, etc.
• Contacting health professionals for advice e.g. G.P.;
• Hospitalisation for day patient or overnight stay if appropriate, etc.

See Alcohol, Young People and the Law (GOV.UK).

Staff are not permitted to consume alcohol whilst on duty and should not arrive at work under the influence of alcohol. If this happens the relevant procedures will be followed.

Confiscating and Disposing of Alcohol

If alcohol is discovered within the home, every effort should be made to confiscate it. However, this could clearly be a trigger towards aggressive behaviour. If Police assistance is required, then they should be contacted to assist.

Disposal of alcohol confiscated should be completed discreetly. A record should be kept on the young person's file/case records, which includes the following:

• The name of the person removing the alcohol;
• A witness;
• A description of it;
• The circumstances, time and date the alcohol was removed;
• Time, date and means of disposal.