Page 28 - Getting it Right for Vulnerable Children and Young People in North Ayrshire

Children and young people whose parents are in prison The material in this section has been drawn from the work of Families Outside and Barnardos. Definition In every community and school there will, at some point, be a child or young person with a parent in prison. Imprisonment affects an estimated 27,000 children in Scotland annually and, in many cases, the school and other organisations concerned with the child may not even know that a parent is in prison. • 7% of children live through the imprisonment of a parent during their time at school. • There are 2½ times as many children of prisoners as there are children in care. • More children in Scotland each year experience a parent’s imprisonment than a parent’s divorce. (Families Outside 2009) • 60% of all women in prison have children. Many of these children will experience an impact upon their health and well-being, both in the short term and, sometimes in the longer term. It is critical staff share responsibility for responding to the needs of these vulnerable children by being aware of the particular issues for children with a parent in prison and responding to these in a sensitive manner. Overview of key issues Effects of a family member’s imprisonment on children parallel children’s experiences of bereavement. This includes deterioration in behaviour, in physical and mental health, and in social and financial circumstances. Imprisonment can also impact children’s housing and care arrangements, schooling, victimisation, substance misuse, and risk of future offending. This guidance will highlight some of the key impacts for children with a parent in prison and some of the key messages from practice about what may help families in such circumstances. Where staff are working directly with a child who has a parent in prison, it is strongly recommended that further reading is undertaken. The potential impact on a child/young person may be:- • Separation and loss • Stigma • Numerous emotions – sadness, grief, shame, embarrassment, worry, relief, guilt • Reconciling their view of their parent with knowing they have “done a bad thing” • Change (e.g. family dynamics, address, school) • Trauma (e.g. witnessing arrest) • Renegotiating relationships with peers and others such as teachers – who knows about the parent in prison and how does this affect their relationship with the child • Child’s self-concept/view of themselves Getting It Right For Vulnerable Children and Young People in North Ayrshire Live V1.2 April 2014 Page No:28