Agenda item

The paper seeks to assure the Panel that relevant ‘policies, procedures and strategies recognise and address the needs of children of alcoholics’ and furthermore sets out examples of the services and programmes commissioned to support children and young people who have a parent / carer who has problematic alcohol use. 

The Director for Safeguarding and Quality Assurance introduced this report to the Panel. She explained that it builds on the report discussed by the Panel on the 18^th September 2018 where they asked for an update on this Council’s position in relation to A Manifesto for Change (signed by the All-Party Parliamentary Group).

She said that when the Council motion was passed the Council Members requested that the National Association for Children of Alcoholics (NACOA) ‘comment on the Council’s support offer for the children of alcoholics’ and for this comment to be shared with the Panel. The position has been shared with NACOA’s Chief Executive and we await their feedback.

She added that the report also seeks to assure the Panel that relevant ‘policies, procedures and strategies recognise and address the needs of children of alcoholics’ and furthermore sets out examples of the services and programmes commissioned to support children and young people who have a parent / carer who has problematic alcohol use.

She highlighted the following key areas within the report in responding to the 10 Manifesto points.

A national strategy is currently absent, however work is ongoing that provides evidence of this issue being addressed in B&NES.

·  Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy 2014 – 2019

·  Children and Young People Plan 2018-2021

·  Early Help Strategy Improvement Plan (2018 - 2019)

·  Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) Transformation Plan (Oct 2018)

·  Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) Transformation Plan (Oct 2018)

·  LSCB Strategic Plan 2018-2021

·  Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) Parenting Strategy (2016-2018)

One of the key principles and commitments of our work is ensuring a Think Family Approach is taken. This is a common theme and shared focus running through all Strategies and Plans going forward.

A range of support services are available in B&NES for both children and parents.

Education, training and awareness raising activities have included;

·  An alcohol awareness session was created and available to all secondary schools for PHSE lessons.

·  Secondary and Primary Schools also participate in the SHEU survey in 2017 and this is being conducted again in 2019. Whilst the survey doesn’t ask questions on parental alcohol use it does ask children about their own use and this is a helpful indicator in respect of tackling generational alcoholism.

·  Alcohol Identification and Brief Advice (IBA) training was delivered by Public Health colleagues on a bespoke basis to health visitors, midwives and community Paediatricians. The training was about getting families early help by identifying parental alcohol use and offering brief advice or referral as appropriate.

·  Parental Substance Misuse, Safeguarding and Child Protection course – this is a one day course for those looking to refresh and build on their knowledge and skills to support children and families living in environments where parents or carers use of alcohol or drugs impacts on their parental capacity.

The Council’s Trading Standards team attend the Licensing Enforcement Group meetings that take place with the Police and Council Licensing team; Trading Standards also undertake underage Test Purchasing operations when we receive intelligence from the Police and respond accordingly.

All new licensing applications are referred to the Council Safeguarding and Quality Assurance team for review on their potential impact on children. 

In addition to the work outlined which demonstrates the Council and partner agencies are taking responsibility to reduce rates of alcohol harm, B&NES Council and Virgin Care (through the sub contracted arrangements) review and monitor rates of alcohol use and treatment outcomes of the DHI and AWP (SDAS) services.

The Chair commented that the Developing Health and Independence Service see this issue as a major concern and said that the Council should reinforce this message wherever possible. She thanked the Director for Safeguarding and Quality Assurance for a very comprehensive report.

Councillor Liz Hardman asked for the NACOA judgement on the Council’s support offer for the children of alcoholics to be brought to the next Panel meeting.

The Panel RESOLVED to:

i)  Note the content of the report which provides assurance that the Council does focus on supporting children and young people who have parents/carers with problematic alcohol use.

ii)   Request that they be updated once the feedback has been received from NACOA.