Children of Substance Misusing Parents
Staff should read the relevant section in "Working Together to Safeguard Children" (page 205) and should refer to the Telford & Wrekin Drug and Alcohol Misuse Team's "Hidden Harm Action Plan" available in the Document Library of these procedures.
It is estimated by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) that 2 to 3 percent of children under 16 years of age are affected by this situation. The report indicates that significant harm can be caused at any age from conception to adulthood.
Every child of a drug misusing parent needs to be assessed under the Common Assessment Framework, or, if the Youth Offending Service is involved, under the ASSET Framework, or under the Joint Assessment arrangement with the Community Substance Misuse Team, in order to determine what levels of risk and harm exist and the support needed to overcome these.
The CSMT Joint Assessment Policy, Report Form and Risk Assessment Form can be viewed in the document library.
In cases where the harm to the unborn child, the child ,or, the young person is assessed as likely to be significant harm, the situation should be referred to the Helpdesk under the "Managing Cases" section of these procedures.