3.11.3 Drugs and Substance Misuse |
SCOPE OF THIS CHAPTER
The procedure is primarily designed for the management of children in foster care and residential care, but the principles apply to all Looked After Children, and Social Workers should be mindful of them when placing children with Parents, relatives and friends.
AMENDMENTS
This Chapter was amended in February 2008, Section 2 (Cigarettes and Tobacco) was amended entirely.
LONDON CHILD PROTECTION PROCEDURES
If there are concerns regarding parental misuse of substances please see London CPP, Section 5.34, Parents who Misuse Substances.
See also Lewisham Young People's Substance Misuse Service Procedure
Contents
1. Definition
Drugs and 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, Benzodiazepines, Cannabis, Cocaine, Hallucinogens, Hashish and Narcotics.
2. Access/Use of Drugs and Substances
2.1 Purchasing/obtaining Drugs or Substances
All reasonable measures must be used to reduce or prevent children from obtaining drugs or substances that may harm them.
If it is known or suspected that children are obtaining products that may harm them, whether off the streets, from dealers or from traders of any kind, a strategy must be adopted to reduce or prevent it.
For guidance on the use and prevention of drugs by young people, see the DUST Drugs Screening Tool
If the problem persists or is serious, relevant specialists or bodies, including Trading Standards or the Police, should be informed.
2.2 Cigarettes and Tobacco
Staff may not smoke in the presence of children and may not purchase or give cigarettes, tobacco or the materials for making or lighting cigarettes or tobacco to children.
Social Workers should not give permission for a Looked After Child to smoke.
In relation to the placement of children in foster care, Lewisham has adopted BAAF Practice Note 51: Reducing the Risks of Environmental Tobacco Smoke for Looked After Children and their Carers.
2.3 Alcohol
In foster Homes, the foster Carers’ Supervising Social Worker and the Social Worker for any children placed should come to an agreement with the foster Carers on whether alcohol may be consumed.
In residential care, Staff/visitors and children are not permitted to consume alcohol or and Staff are not permitted to take children into licensed premises other than those which serve food and ones that are family friendly. Such trips must be agreed with the Registered Manager of the Home before they take place.
2.4 Aerosols, Gas, Glue, and Petrol
Staff/Carers 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 children who are known to pose no risk to themselves or others if they have access to them.
In foster Homes, the arrangements for the obtaining, storage or access to children of these substances must be outlined in the Carers’ Foster Care Agreement or Placement Plan/Placement Information Record for individual children.
In residential care, the arrangements for the obtaining, storage and use of these substances must be outlined in the Staff Handbook and Children’s Guide or individual children’s Placement Plans where there is a particular or known risk.
2.5 Controlled Drugs or Substances
Under no circumstances may controlled drugs and substances, other than those prescribed by a medical practitioner, be accessible to children.
In relation to Looked After Children, these arrangements must be recorded, for example, in the Foster Care Agreement, Statement of Purpose or Placement Plan for an individual child.
3. Assessment, Prevention and Planning
The impact and effect of a child using or misusing any substance should be considered as part of the initial and core assessments or when s/he becomes Looked After. The Parental view of the behaviour and an assessment of the safeguards and harm minimisation strategies employed within the family should be understood and analysed.
The Home environment should be considered in terms of the availability of alcohol, aerosols, or drug using paraphernalia and the Parents ability to promote and maintain a safe Home environment
The Social Worker should make reference to the child protection procedures as appropriate and determined by the level of risk the young person places themselves in
Additionally, any child known or suspected to be participating in drug or substances misuse activities must be provided with the following
Targeted relevant information, guidance and advice to help reduce or prevent such risks
A strategy for managing the risk, outlined in a Behaviour Management Plan
As part of this Strategy, consideration should also be given, through consultation with the child, to making referrals for specialist support and help children to access treatment, if appropriate
The strategy should state whether, and in what circumstances, the Police will be notified.
4. Emergencies
If it is suspected that a child is misusing harmful drugs or substances and no strategy exists to reduce or prevent the behaviour, the child’s Social Worker 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 and the Social Worker or Manager are not available, Staff/Carers should take what actions are immediately necessary, then inform the Manager and the child's Social Worker at the first opportunity
The actions that Staff/Carers take will be dependent on the circumstances and the degree of offence or injury that is likely
The overall responsibility of Staff/Carers is to protect children, themselves and others from injury and reduce or prevent the likelihood of criminal offences
If there is a risk of Serious Harm, Injury or of a serious criminal offence and Staff/Carers are unable to manage safely, the Police should be notified
If solvents are involved, allow air to circulate freely and extinguish naked lights
If any person is unconscious, in a fit, convulsing or otherwise seriously ill, emergency first aid should be given and an ambulance requested. The emergency services should be informed that there are suspicions of drug or solvent misuse.
5. Notifications
Incidents of drug or substance misuse must be notified to the Supervising Social Worker and the child’s Social Worker at the first opportunity
A decision about whether to notify the Parents will be taken by the Social Worker, in consultation with their team Manager
If incident(s) are persistent or serious, consideration should be given to reviewing the child’s plan and/or seeking specialist advice. See Lewisham Drug Strategy Team Guidance(to follow)
End