Page 37 - Getting it Right for Vulnerable Children and Young People in North Ayrshire

Not all parents who use substances experience difficulties with family life, child care or parenting capacity. Equally, not all children exposed to substance use in the home are adversely affected in the short or longer term. That said, the impacts of parental problematic alcohol and drug use can also have a very detrimental impact on the health and wellbeing of some children. Children can also be at increased risk of experiencing violence and maltreatment when living with parental problematic drug and/or alcohol use. All services have a part to play in helping to identify children affected by parental problematic alcohol and/or drug use at an early stage. They should gather basic information about the family wherever possible. Although parental alcohol and/or drug use can have a number of impacts on children and families, it does not necessarily follow that all children will be adversely affected. On the other hand, it is also true that parents and children hide problems – sometimes very serious ones. For example, children are often wary of talking about their needs for fear of losing their parents. Parents may also have concerns about their children being taken into care. Generally, where substance use is identified, this should act as a prompt for all services – whether in an adult or child care setting – to consider how this might impact on any dependent child. Adult services will play a vital role in the support and protection of children. While their main role is with the adult service user, they have an important role in the identification of children living with – and being cared for - by adults with problems associated with problematic alcohol and/or drug use. Adult services should be equipped to provide information and advice to parents about the possible impacts of their problematic alcohol and/or drug use on dependent children, together with other information and advice about alcohol/drugs and their effects. They should always explore how problematic alcohol and/or drug use may affect an adult’s responsibilities for child care. Further Guidance A Practitioner’s Guide To Getting Our Priorities Right (GOPR): Working with Children, Young People and Families Affected by Problematic Alcohol and/or Drugs Use across North Ayrshire. Available on www.childprotectionnorthayrshire.info and www.naadp.com Getting It Right For Vulnerable Children and Young People in North Ayrshire Live V1.2 April 2014 Page No:37