Identifying and Supporting Children Affected by Parental Substance Use: Resource for Schools

2013·0.87 MB·English

Identifying and supporting
children affected by
parental substance use
Resource for schools
How can schools identify and support pupils Key messages:
affected by parental substance misuse?
Parental substance use is not a prob-
This resource has been developed for the Alcohol
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and Drug Education and Prevention Information
Service (ADEPIS) by Adfam, the national is it an issue they should turn a blind
umbrella organisation for those working with and eye to
for families affected by drugs and alcohol, and is
Schools have both the responsibility
intended to be a useful tool to help schools in
safeguarding their pupils. and the ability to support children af-
fected by parental substance use
ADEPIS is a project funded by the Department for
Education which aims to provide good practice Safeguarding is a matter of child wel-
and evidence-based examples, and useful fare, not drug and alcohol expertise
resources for the delivery of effective drug and
Existing structures/policies cover most
alcohol education in schools.
of this work already, but added focus is
The purpose of this resource
needed
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may often initially focus on incidents on school
grounds and how to respond to them, students at risk
of using substances, or perhaps about drug
education.
However, substance use can impact the lives of
young people in many ways, especially if they are
affected by problematic drug or alcohol use in their
own homes. This resource aims to summarise the key
issues for children affected by parental substance
use, and how schools can consider supporting them.
It is aimed primarily at school governors and
headteachers, but will also be relevant to members of
staff with particular pastoral care duties, including
school nurses, Education Welfare Officers, and
anyone identified as a Designated Senior Person
(DSP) for child protection in schools.
Key Points
Governors
Schools have a duty of care to all pupils, and support
for especially vulnerable children is a stated focus of
Ofsted inspections.
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able pupils?
Is there a policy for identifying and supporting chil-
dren who may be affected by parental substance
use? How do you know this policy is working?

Headteachers
Schools can be a safe haven for children whose
home lives are chaotic, and provide a structure they
may lack elsewhere. Schools can identify children
early and play a positive role in building their resil-
ience and self-esteem.
What arrangements are there in school to identify
and safeguard the wellbeing of pupils who need
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Is substance use covered in teacher training
courses?
What procedures are there in place for engaging
the parents and carers of vulnerable children?
Is there a named lead for issues relating to parental
substance use in the school?

Teachers and other school staff
Teachers should be continually vigilant for signs of
neglect and abuse in children, and background
causes may relate to substance use in the household.
Teachers may also be trusted by children in a way
that other professionals are not.
Do you know about the impacts of parental sub-
stance use, or the possible indicators?
Would you know what to do if a child disclosed that
their parents used drugs?
Resource for schools
Background subject to a number of other challenges and
vulnerabilities in their home life, including:
No school should assume that none of its chil-
Neglect
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Disruption of household routines
- Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, Hidden
Inadequate supervision
Harm
Physical and emotional abuse
The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs report Impaired or inappropriate parenting practices
Hidden Harm estimated that 2-3% of children are
Poverty
affected by problematic parental substance use. This
would suggest there may be half a dozen children in Exposure to drugs and drug-taking equipment in
the home
an average primary school whose parents use drugs,
and nearly 30 in a typical secondary school (cid:177) the Domestic violence.
equivalent of a whole class. These estimates only
Their experiences may also be marked by:
cover parents with serious dependencies on heroin
and crack cocaine, and do not account for children Love and loyalty - being protective of parents
affected by alcohol or other drug use in the Reluctance to disclose problems at home, and
household, so they underestimate the scale of the uncertainty of who to talk to
problem.
Psychological distress
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Guilt, shame, and stigma
- Edward Timpson, Minister of State for Children Sadness, isolation, and depression
and Families (speech)
Anger and frustration
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The key message, therefore, is that this does apply to
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every school, and every school has a
Children whose parents use drugs or alcohol may
responsibility (cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:90)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:71)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:182)(cid:86)(cid:3)
also have young caring responsibilities, either for their
needs.
parents directly or for siblings.
The experiences of children
(cid:182)Many young carers come from hidden and mar-
Whilst some of the impacts of parental substance use ginalised groups, including children caring for fam-
on children may be drug-specific (cid:177) safety issues in ily members with mental illness or a substance
the home, for example (cid:177) the majority are not. Most (cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:92)(cid:182)(cid:3)
challenges will be shared by children with other
vulnerabilities: teachers and other school staff will - (cid:38)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:71)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:182)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:54)(cid:82)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:92)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:43)(cid:76)(cid:71)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:3)(cid:57)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:90)(cid:29)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:91)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:16)
already be familiar with them, and there will likely be ences of young carers in England
training, policies and procedures in place for

managing them. Parental substance use and its
impacts on children, therefore, fall well within the
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responsibilities, and should not be seen as
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The impacts of parental substance use on children
are quite well-documented, but also numerous and
complex. Substance use does not exist in a vacuum
and children suffering its effects are likely to be
Age-specific impacts
Living with parents who use substances can have varying impacts depending on many factors, including age.
Impacts
Age Health Education and Relationships Emotional/
cognitive ability behavioural
development
5-9 School medical Poorer school Restricted More antisocial acts by
checks missed attendance, friendships boys; depression,
preparation, and anxiety, and withdrawal
concentration due to Excessive by girls
parental problems responsibility for
and unstable home parent(s) or
situation siblings
10- Little parental Continued poor Poor self-esteem Emotional disturbance,
14 support in academic and low self-image conduct disorders (eg
puberty performance e.g. if bullying, sexual abuse)
looking after parents all more common
Early smoking, or siblings
drinking, and Higher risk of offending
drug use more and criminality
likely
15+ Increased risk of Lack of educational Lack of suitable Greater risk of self-
problem alcohol attainment may role model blame, guilt, increased
and drug use, affect long-term life suicide risk
pregnancy or chances
sexually
transmitted
diseases
(Source: Hidden Harm)
Not all of these impacts are necessarily drug-specific, Impacts on school life: indicators for
so it should be possible to fit responses into existing
teachers and other staff
policies and thresholds on child protection and
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drug-using parents will not be unique among whose parents are violent, aggressive, neglectful
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parental substance use, therefore, should be seen as from the services intended to support them unless

(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:82)(cid:82)(cid:79)(cid:182)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:68)(cid:73)(cid:72)(cid:74)(cid:88)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:83)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:69)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3) their behaviour attracts attention at school, college
and not as something extra or separate. However, (cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:90)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:75)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:17)(cid:182)(cid:3)
there is a need to recognise the implications for staff
(cid:177) Department for Education, Safeguarding Chil-
training, assessment and case management
dren and Safer Recruitment in Education
procedures, and for inter-agency liaison with other

local services, including any which work specifically
with this group of children. Schools and teachers often have a window into these
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It is also important to remember that not all children
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affected by parental substance use will obviously be
needs and be led by them, rather than focusing on
suffering from problems like abuse and neglect.
(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:73)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:182)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:88)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:17)(cid:3)
Similarly, not all children who show signs of disrupted
home life will have a substance user in their family. (cid:181)(cid:54)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:82)(cid:82)(cid:79)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:88)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:79)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:81)(cid:82)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:16)
dren and young people in need of help and also to
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notice those where there are more serious con-
issues and concerns regarding the family in rela-
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tion to neglect relate to parental capability [which]
can be a consequence of...substance misuse and - Professor Eileen Munro, The Munro Review of
(cid:68)(cid:71)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:182)(cid:3) Child Protection: Final Report

- NSPCC, The role of schools, academies and col-
Many of the indicators discussed here will be
leges in addressing neglect
exhibited by children experiencing other
vulnerabilities, and teachers should already be on the

Key questions: lookout for signs of abuse or neglect in their everyday
work. Schools and teachers should be especially
Are teachers aware of the key im- vigilant around young children who are already known
to be vulnerable, as they may not be aware that the
pacts of parental substance use on
background cause could be related to alcohol or
children?
drugs.

(cid:58)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:82)(cid:82)(cid:79)(cid:182)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:82)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:88)(cid:83)(cid:16) In a school setting, the impacts of parental substance
porting vulnerable pupils? use may be manifest in subtle and different ways, and
are not always marked by serious individual incidents.

Possible indicators include:
(cid:181)(cid:54)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:82)(cid:82)(cid:79)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:75)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:79)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:86)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:86)(cid:3)
are trained to identify and assess the early signs
Isolation (cid:177) finding it hard to socialise, make friends
of anxiety, emotional distress and behavioural or invite them home

problems among primary school children. They
Difficulties completing homework on time
should also be able to assess whether a specialist

should be involved and make an appropriate re- Bullying (including due to poor physical
(cid:84)(cid:88)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:182) appearance)
Poor attendance or late arrival
- National Institute for Health and Care Excel-
Tiredness or lack of concentration
lence, Social and emotional wellbeing in primary

education Lack of engagement or interest from parents (e.g.
non-(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:182)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:86)(cid:12)
Unavailability for school clubs or trips If children do not wish to disclose to school staff,
information should still be available (in school libraries
Academic underachievement
and other visible spaces) on other sources of support,
Behavioural difficulties.
including local young carer support services and any
There may also be risks of children mimicking their organisations working with children affected by
(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:182)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:89)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:83)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:74)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:88)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3) parental substance use.
the possibility of violence if there is domestic abuse in
the house, or beginning to use substances
themselves. Key question:
Whilst generalisations should be avoided, substance What arrangements are there in
use may also be a factor in the lives of children who
school to identify and safeguard the
are cared for by other members of their family (cid:177)
wellbeing of pupils who need help
especially grandparents (cid:177) or those growing up in
foster care. According to Grandparents Plus, almost (cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:88)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:182)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:88)(cid:69)(cid:16)
half of grandparent carers took on the role because of stance use?
substance use in the family.* Being cared for by
people other than parents can also be a cause of
bullying in itself.** What these children need
Key question:
Key question:
How can your school support chil-
Do you know all the children in
dren when there is known to be a
school who do not live with their
problem with drugs or alcohol in
birth parents?
their family?
As noted previously, young caring responsibilities can
(cid:181)(cid:51)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:82)(cid:82)(cid:79)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:75)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:79)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:89)(cid:76)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:73)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:3)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:83)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:3)
be a major factor in the lives of children affected by
those children most at risk (or already showing
parental substance use. Some of the indicators
signs) of social, emotional and behavioural prob-
above, such as poor attendance or late arrival at
(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:80)(cid:86)(cid:182)
school, may be explained by inappropriate or time- - National Institute for Health and Care Excel-
consuming responsibilities in the home rather than lence, Social and Emotional Wellbeing for Chil-
poor behaviour or a lack of discipline. dren and Young People
There may be opportunities for children to self-identify
Whilst some support for children affected by parental
if they feel comfortable doing so. This may be to a
substance use may require specialists who recognise
trusted teacher or other member of staff, and there
the unique nature of the family situation and provide a
may be specific opportunities for disclosure, for
more intensive service, it is important to demystify
example following drug education lessons. It is
some of the issues to ensure that teachers and other
important that teachers and other members of staff
school staff do not avoid engaging with the issue
(cid:78)(cid:81)(cid:82)(cid:90)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:82)(cid:82)(cid:79)(cid:182)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:82)(cid:90)-up in
purely because drugs are a verified or suspected
such cases, and feel comfortable with how to respond
(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:71)(cid:182)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:75)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:73)(cid:72)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:44)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:82)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:15)(cid:3)
to the child after such a disclosure (cid:177) this should be
support needs for children affected by parental
(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:82)(cid:82)(cid:79)(cid:182)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:85)(cid:88)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:82)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:92)(cid:17)(cid:3)
substance use will mirror the needs of vulnerable
children more generally.
* Grandparents Plus (2010) What if we said no?
Children affected by parental substance use value
reassurance that:
** Buttle UK/University of Bristol (2013) The Poor Rela-
tions? Children and Informal Kinship Carers Speak Out
(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:92)(cid:182)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:81)(cid:82)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:72) Engaging parents can fit into existing practice: if there
is a parental liaison lead in school, they will already
(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:182)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:3)
be working on engaging with families where the
(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:92)(cid:182)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:81)(cid:82)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:92)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:92)(cid:69)(cid:82)(cid:71)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:78)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:69)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:17)(cid:3)
(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:71)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:182)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:89)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:88)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:81)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:54)(cid:76)(cid:80)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:79)(cid:92)(cid:15)(cid:3)
They may also benefit from: there may be a Parent Support Adviser (PSA)
working in the school or across the Local Authority,
somewhere quiet to relax
whose remit can cover some of this work.
extra support with school work
Carers
identified special teachers to talk to
knowing other children whose parents use drugs/ Children may also be cared for by other people if their
alcohol parents use drugs. This includes foster carers, but
(cid:86)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:82)(cid:82)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:81)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:78)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:92)(cid:182)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:50)(cid:46)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:75)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:89)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:15)(cid:3) also means close family members, neighbours or
and meet their family friends; it can be a legal arrangement or it might be
access to existing programmes like breakfast/after much more informal. Schools should be aware of the
school clubs, careers advice, and extra-curricular challenges that these carers face, and recognise the
activities. extra strain that substance use can place on families
(cid:177) especially if grandparents are dealing with the day-
(cid:181)(cid:54)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:82)(cid:82)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:68)(cid:73)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:16)
to-(cid:71)(cid:68)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:76)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:71)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:182)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:89)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:83)(cid:3)
dren, the only place where there is a pattern and a
of taking a caring role for grandchildren.
(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:85)(cid:88)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:76)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:182)(cid:3)
- Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, Hid-
den Harm
Key question:
What procedures does the school
It is important to evaluate the success of support work
undertaken with these children. A number of tools have in place for engaging the par-
exist to measure wellbeing, such as Outcomes Stars
ents and carers of vulnerable chil-
or the Well-Being Measure; there are also more
specific tools which examine the experiences of dren?
young carers, including the Multidimensional
Assessment of Caring Activities (MACA) and Positive
and Negative Outcomes of Caring (PANOC). It is up The role of a school drug policy
to schools to decide which are most appropriate in
measuring the wellbeing of vulnerable pupils, but a As well as laying out responses to drug incidents in
variety of tools exist to examine issues like behaviour, school and illustrating approaches to drug education,
anxiety and depression, coping skills and happiness
a school drug policy should also make reference to
in young people*, mostly in the form of simple
identifying and supporting children whose parents use
questionnaires.
drugs. If parental substance use is disclosed or

Engaging the family discovered, it should be clear what action is to be
taken next. Simple knowledge of the situation does
Parents not in itself improve outcomes for the child.
Having a substance use problem does not mean that
(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:182)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:69)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:76)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:71)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:92)(cid:3) Key question:
are automatically resistant to positive involvement
(cid:90)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:71)(cid:182)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:88)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:44)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3) Do you have a policy for identifying
treatment, for example, they may be attempting to re-
and supporting children who may be
take a positive parenting role and be receptive to
affected by parental substance use?
support in undertaking this. Having a non-teaching
family link worker can help in these cases. How do you know this policy is
working?
*See, for example, Adi et al/University of Warwick (2007) Systematic
review of the effectiveness of interventions to promote mental wellbe-
ing in children in primary education
A school drug policy should: Parental substance use is something which all
teachers should have at least a basic understanding
clarify the support available to pupils whose own
of, and it should be covered in teacher training and
drug or alcohol use, or that of a family member, is
ongoing professional development. But different
causing concern, including screening and referral
members of school staff will have varying
or signposting to external agencies
responsibilities relating to safeguarding, including
give clear procedures for handling disclosures of
school nurses, counsellors, Education Welfare
children relating to parental substance use
Officers and designated child protection leads. There
(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:88)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:79)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:88)(cid:83)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:86)(cid:182)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:73)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)
will also be different relationships with other local
support needs and when and how to involve other
(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:89)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:88)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:38)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:71)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:182)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:54)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:89)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:3)
(cid:86)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:88)(cid:83)(cid:83)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:88)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:38)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:71)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:182)(cid:86)(cid:3)
agencies and, where available, specific support
Services, services commissioned by the DAAT
and, where appropriate, the family services for the children of drug or alcohol users.
There should be at least one nominated member of
illustrate critical incident plans and clear
staff able to deal with problems related to parental
arrangements for liaison with Social Services
substance use. This role may or may not cross over
define significant harms in terms of child protection,
with other named leads for drug issues or child
and illustrate when to invoke child protection
protection.
procedures
(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:82)(cid:82)(cid:79)(cid:86)(cid:182)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:83)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:69)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:15)(cid:3)
and show when and how to involve other agencies Key question:
identify named members of staff to oversee and
Is there a named lead for issues re-
coordinate drug issues, and their roles and
responsibilities lating to parental substance use in
define the learning that children receive on drug the school?
prevention, and how it meets quality standards
Identify local support structures for children whose
parents use drugs and alcohol.
Just as schools may provide a form of structure
lacking from their home life, individual teachers may
also represent a positive relationship the child is
There will also be crossovers with other policies, such
missing. A trusting, caring relationship with an adult
as those for vulnerable children and young carers,
can be a key protective factor for children, and this
where schools have them in place. Such policies
role can, where appropriate, be taken by a teacher or
should be backed up by teacher training to ensure
other member of school staff.
that school staff fully understand the relevant
procedures.
There should be an understanding within the school
of issues relating to confidentiality and disclosure, and
(cid:181)(cid:54)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:82)(cid:82)(cid:79)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:89)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:76)(cid:74)(cid:75)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:16) what does and does not need to be reported to
dicate that the child is experiencing difficult home (cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:11)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:88)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:38)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:71)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:182)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:54)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:89)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:12)(cid:3)
(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:85)(cid:70)(cid:88)(cid:80)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:182)
according to local thresholds. This is a complex area
- Association of Chief Police Officers/Department
of practice, and the impact on the child is not directly
for Education, Drug Advice for Schools
proportional to the level of substance use by the
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The role of school staff (cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:71)(cid:182)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:86)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:91)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)
parental drug or alcohol use. Again, focusing on the
needs of the child simplifies the process for
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ent or parents have drug problems. If they are professionals who may not be experienced or
aware, they may not realise the particular implica- confident in assessing problems associated with
tions for the child. If they realise the implications, substance use.
they may well not be aware of possible solutions
or their role in these(cid:182)(cid:3)
- Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs
Summary of key questions
Whilst parental substance use is not a problem which
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Do you have a policy for identify-
can ignore.
ing and supporting children who
By addressing the key questions below, schools may be affected by parental sub-
should put themselves in a strong position to identify
stance use? How do you know this
and support children affected by drug and alcohol use
policy is working?
in their family.
Are teachers aware of the key im-
Is there a named lead for issues
pacts of parental substance use
relating to parental substance use
on children?
in the school?
(cid:58)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:92)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:82)(cid:82)(cid:79)(cid:182)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:82)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)
supporting vulnerable pupils?
Do you know all the children in
school who do not live with their
birth parents?
What arrangements are there in
school to identify and safeguard
the wellbeing of pupils who need
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substance use?
What procedures does the school
have in place for engaging the par-
ents and carers of vulnerable chil-
dren?
Further resources

Sample questions for teachers
The following examples could provide a useful a pupil has been coming into school pretending to
template for teacher training exercises with school drink alcohol and acting drunk
staff, and can help to embed learning based around a a pupil asks a teacher about injecting drugs, giving
school policy. the impression she has seen this at home
a staff member overhears a pupil discussing a
Please discuss your responses to the following
family member who smokes cannabis
situations:
a parent is suspected of being under the influence
a parent comes to school to collect a child, and of drugs on school premises
smells strongly of alcohol
a pupil discloses a parent, relative or friend is
a pupil is worried about his older brother smoking using drugs
cannabis and wants to find out whether this is

dangerous without getting him into trouble
Questionnaire to assess staff understanding of procedure
Totally Agree Not sure Disagree Totally dis-
agree agree
I would know what action to take if a pupil
disclosed parental alcohol or drug misuse
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dentiality and know who to report child pro-
tection concerns to
I know what the procedure would be if a
parent was under the influence of drugs or
alcohol on school premises or when collect-
ing their child