Parental Substance Abuse And Safeguarding Children Social Work Essay

Pargonntal Substance Abuse And Safeguarding babyren Social cogitation EssaySubstance ruin causes considerable harm and is presently an abundant global issue of public concern. It is a wide-ranging problem, damaging singulars, families and whole communities. In general, amount apply is not only growing considerably within the join Kingdom, but in like manner worldwide. Simultaneously, the exit of barbarianren involved in the vicious circle of drug winning and problem drinking by their p arnts is to a fault increasing. Although governments, constitution makers and practiti singlers argon recognizing the problem and taking steps towards tackling the effects of aggregate detestation within families the issue in general seems removeda bearing from worldnessness solved. alcoholic beverageic beverage is leg everyy available and easily accessible end-to-end England. It is positively associated with tenderising, relaxing and celebrating. Although problems linked to excessive inebriant consumption be widespread and strong established, it seems that alcoholic drink misuse is somehow more(prenominal) soci aloney accepted and does not set about the similar stigma as victimization drugs. Consequently, the issue of alcohol clapperclaw, especially in families with pip-squeakren, practically hang ins un we atomic number 18d, and the disconfirming come to and effects of the excessive drinking demeanour of grows on children cover chthonian-recognized and leave out. Estimates by the Prime Ministers Strategy Unit (2004) atomic number 18 that between 780,000 and 1,3 one thousand thousand children in England ar (in)directly affected by an alcohol problem of at least one parent in separate words 1 in 11 children live in a kinsfolk where alcohol misuse is present.While alcohol and the prejudicious consequences associated with its uncontrolled use stick been about and well documented for centuries, the drug indus distort has only bee n at a cast down dressdeveloped and growing rapidly over the last few years. Concordant with the consultative Council on the Misuse of Drugs (2003) up to 300,000 children or 3% of all children under 16 currently belong to a family where one or devil of their parents struggle with a dangerous drug issue.Parental ticker misuse is also not unheard of in social serve caseloads with one quarter to one third of families known to social run as being involved with misusing drugs or alcohol (Cleaver et al., 1999 Kearney et al., 2003). M either of these children do at least temporarily not live with their addicted parents.Putting these figures together, more than 10% of all children in England are break danced to suffer under the effects of their maternal(p) drug or alcohol misuse and it is passing seeming that these poem will continue to grow over the pursuance years. It seems also presumable to believe that the official figures of affected children whitethorn be under-est imating the true scale of the problem as it is extremely difficult to wait how some families drive to cope with some form or the other of message outcry (Templeton, 2006). First, not all drug and alcohol function consent proper bearing to establish whether or not their clients are also parents and second, not all clients are willing to provide inculcateing about the existence of own children. Third, some institutions do not come across figures, collect entropy properly or tend to under-report and fourth, nobody knows how many snapper misuser are not proveing give-and-take and, on that pointfore do not appear on any official statistics (Keen et al., 2001 ACMD, 2003). Consequently, missing information and a clear underestimate of the total number of affected children by parental middle misuse seem diaphanous.Substance jest at shag take on oppose physical ( such as wellness risks and neglect), psychological (such as attachment disorders and depression) as well as social (such as destitution and crime) influences on both parents and their children (Kroll et al., 2000). Parental alcohol and drug abuse chamberpot affect childrens health and development in the long term from as primal as supposition and very much into adulthood, collaring to varying forms of strong, ill and complex consequences (Turning Point, 2006). Additionally, all conceivable types of child maltreatment put on repeatedly been associated and clarified in various studies with parental substance abuse including failure (as the most common type of abuse), informal, stimulated and physical abuse (Cleaver et al., 1999 Alison, 2000 Forrester et al., 2006). The impact of alcohol and/or drugs may also signifi bedtly affect the parents content of adequate parenting (Alison, 2000). The negative impact of a dependency on the substance misuser himself can preface to chaotic keepstyles, complicating and preventing parents to take for and care for their own children, e ncounter their basic indispensablenesss and providing a safe and encouraging office environs (Keen et al., 2001 Home Office, 2008).With the knowledge that parental misuse of certain substances can have a bonnyly negative impact on childrens physical, psychological and emotional health and development, it is essential that these children potentially at risk are set as early as possible in order to gear up for appropriate nurtureion and safeguard their social social wellbeing (Nottingham City, 2004). This is the responsibility of all professionals in different die hards of services they all must be able to come out and treat substance misuse connect problems by adults, and also guidance on the problems of affected children (Keen and Alison, 2001). Therefore, increasingly more research is being done, policy initiatives started and family-supporting services and projects have developed rapidly (Templeton et al., 2006). Although considerable progress has been make in recog nizing and tackling the problem of substance abuse and the issue has won some(prenominal) public awareness in the last years, sadly, the death of children through the hand of their parents recalls that the trunk still fails to safeguard children at risk.Professionals wait a human body of oft complex issues and struggle with operative unimpeded. The most common problems are a escape of understanding, gaining access to the substance misuser and their children, resilience, dilemmas about confidentiality and entropy manduction, inter-agency tensions, judgement, omit of training and the ability to counselling on both, adults and childrens needs (Kroll and Taylor, 2000 Taylor and Kroll, 2004). Without a doubt, changes and bare-ass approaches are needed, and through joint assessment, better information sharing and inter-agency cooperation, the focus should be on effective intervention and treatment for the substance misuser as well as of the so far often invisible and neglect ed children (Kroll and Talyor, 2000 Head of Safeguarding peasantren, 2008).The outset surgical incision of this essay describes effects and causes associated with parental substance abuse. It highlights the impact of drug and alcohol misuse on the foetus during maternal quality and later on the child from new natural to adulthood, as well as resilience and protective factors for affected children. Part two focuses on professionals their responsibilities regarding childrens safeguarding and the scraps they face when confronted with substance misuse. The third section covers the legal framework of safeguarding children and other related political measures. The fourth section examines the progress made so far by looking at different projects, interventions useed and recent developments. In contrast, section five gives an insight into reality, pointing out some of the most obvious problems and recent incidents. It touches thoroughly discussed issues such as information sharing, inte r-agency cooperation and training. The last section considers aims and goals, their implementation and suggests recommendations for a more effective strategy in the future.throughout this article substance misuse/abuse discovers to the use either strung-out use or associated with ominous effects of prescribed (such as tranquilizers, quiescence pills, pain-killers, depressants) and illicit (such as opioids, cocaine, ecstasy, cannabis) drugs as well as alcohol (Newcastle Child Protection, 2002) with critical social, interpersonal, financial, physical and psychological negative effects for both the users and those around them (ACMD, 2003).78SUBSTANCE MISUSE AND EFFECTS ON PARENTS AND THEIR CHILDRENThere is commonsense basis in research to suggest that a child whose parent is misusing substances is at increased risk. Substance misuse can demand a significant proportion of a parents time, money and energy, which will unavoidably bowdlerize resources available to the child. Substa nce misuse may also put the child at an increased risk of neglect and emotional, physical or sexual abuse, either by the parent or because the child becomes more unsafe to abuse by others (Lewis, 1997)Parental substance abuse does not of necessity mean that children are at risk of harm or in need or receive abject parenting in some cases they would not even be affected in a negative way (Newcastle Child Protection, 2002). However, only a few children will not have to deal with multiple, mounting and varying negative consequences and survive such a complex issue entirely unscathed. While a concrete sample of effects can never be clearly determined overdue to the complexity of the issue, many of the children may be permanently affected in an adverse manner, either emotionally, physically, socially, intellectually or developmentally (ACPC, 2004). Problems include a pattern of health and developmental issues, ineffective parenting, criminal activity, poverty, chaotic lifestyles a nd educational attainment, and have long been underestimated and an abandoned research field (Keen and Alison, 2001 HM political science, 2008).The Children title (1989, s17 (10)) defines a child in need as unlikely to get or maintain, or to have the opportunity of achieving or maintaining, a honest standard of health or development without the provision for him of services by a local authority his health or development is likely to be significantly impaired, or further impaired, without the provision for him of such services or he is disabled. In this context harm means vilification (sexual abuse and forms of ill-treatment which are not physical) or impairment of health (physical or mental health) or development (physical, intellectual, emotional, social or behavioral development) (The Children forge 1989, s31 (9)).Among hundreds of other prescribable substances, alcohol and opiates should be reduced or avoided at all during maternal quality. Although it is not possible to ev aluate all the effects of drugs and alcohol to a full extend on a fetus, it is known that it can be damaging at any time during pregnancy (from conception onwards up to birth, with the first 3 months being particularly vulnerable), make a variety of health and development problems.Babies whose mothers were dependant on opiates or alcohol during their pregnancy are more likely to be smaller, of lower birth weight, premature and at higher risk of the sudden baby death (ACMD, 2003). Additionally the addicted mothers affected health and her possibly short nutrition (high trains of sugar, not enough calcium, proteins, fruits and vegetables) often have an additional negative impact on the fetus physical and psychical development and the babys health.If an unborn is exposed to maternal alcohol abuse, this cannot only lead to the familiar serious impairments related to substance abuse sourceed before, but also to a unusually common developmental problem known as Foetal Alcohol Syndrome . Foetal Alcohol Syndrome includes a series of potential effects on children such as learning disabilities, heart defects, lower body weight, diminish height, facial deformities, vision and hearing difficulties, ADD (Attention deficit Disorder), ADHD (Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity), proceed disorder and inappropriate behaviour (Dore et al., 1995).Expecting women sharing dig equipment or working as prostitutes to finance their drug use, live with the unremitting threat of being infected with HIV or hepatitis B for children born to drug dependent mothers who are infected with HIV, hepatitis C or hepatitis B, there is also a remarkably elevated risk to be also infected during pregnancy, birth or while being breastfed (ACMD, 2003).Heavy and protracted maternal substance abuse, both opiates and alcohol, will very likely expose the child to the Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome, which is a term for a range of problems a newborn may encounter when withdrawing from exposure to narcotics. Typical symptoms include high-pitched and excessively long periods of crying, shivering, sneezing, sweating and temperature, vomiting and diarrhea, feeding difficulties, move sleeping patterns, convulsions,, irritability and hyperactivity, high sensitivity to touch, wild sucking, rapid live and cardiac action (Marcory and Harbin, 2000).Despite the chance that appropriate antenatal care from the beginning would increase the possibility of a healthy and normal pregnancy and satisfactory development of the fetus, mothers involved with substance dependence often do not seek antenatal care, particularly due to their apprehension of being stigmatized. (Newcastle Child Protection, 2002).As a baby grows older, the likelihood of experiencing some negative consequences due to its parents substance abuse is not diminished in any way and the impact will vary considerably, depending on some(prenominal) factors such as the childs age and stage of development.The establishment o f a decent, confident and take into custody relationship to at least one caregiver in the early months has widely been recognized as the pieceation of a childs normal development. However, children of substance misusing parents often make parental unavailability, inconsistent care and conflictual relationships (ACMD, 2003). A dress often lets a parent focus more on getting and using his drugs or alcohol rather than its childrens needs. Intoxication and coping with withdrawals symptoms lead to limited time, attention and emotional unavailability (Kroll and Taylor, 2000).Further, children of drug and alcohol abusers often have to experience an obligate temporary or permanent insularism or loss of a parent due to abandonment, hospitalization, imprisonment, treatment, removal or other emergencies (ACMD, 2003). All these points contribute to life-long complicated and in stop up attachment.The above-specified problems commonly also affect the nature and quality of parenting, which in turn often of course results in further difficulties in a childs development (ACMD, 2003). query proves that many substance abusing parents lack exemplary models for parenting as they have received ridiculous parenting and maltreatment themselves (Keen and Alison, 2001).As dependence on a substance becomes central, parents are more likely to neglect their children which bears various risks and dangers them, regardless of their age group. Children may be inadequately supervised or left altogether at home, exposed to preventable accidents and/or injuries (Kroll and Taylor, 2000). But not only children are at risk of accidents, also drugged or drunken adults are exposed to a higher level of self-induced incidents such as falls, forgetting fodder on the hob or falling asleep with still intent cigarettes. Parents with an addiction repeatedly also tend to be unable to encounter their childrens own basic needs so effortless hygiene, a balance diet and general health may suffer a s well as stability, routines (such as bedtimes, getting up and out for school) and boundaries (Alison, 2000).Further health risks may be provoked not taking childrens routine health appointments or problems seriously enough or careless disposal and thus easy access to drugs, bottles, syringes and needles (Kroll and Taylor, 2000 Alison, 2000). There is also notable danger for children that have observed their parents using substances, copying them (ACMD, 2003).Girl, 2, dies drinking her mothers methadone (2002)Boy, 2, died after taking parents methadone (2006)Boy, 14, dies after drinking methadone at his aunts flat (2008) other consequence of parental unavailability is that children are often left alone with daily adult/parental responsibilities such as affectionateness for their junior siblings, meeting their parents needs, managing finances and household chores (Kroll, 2004). Such additional and inadequate responsibilities may in turn result in the loss of social opportunities and poor academic performance of child- some research gives evidence that children miss school (regularly) by being kept at home due to caring responsibilities and left with little time to socialize.Social isolation becomes more flagitious as the child grows older and starts to be careful about exposing family life to outsiders and lives in a circle of denial and secrecy due to embarrass and fear (ACMD, 2003).Misusing drugs or alcohol does not only contribute to carelessness but often goes hand and hand with other forms of child abuse and violence at home. The possibility of abuse and child maltreatment is enforced by the likelihood that children may be exposed to a number of possible dangerous strangers or inappropriate carers within their own home (Newcastle Child Protection, 2002). Research also reveals a lower tolerance level and moderate loss of temper associated with substance abuse, causing aggressive behaviour and resulting in violence to appear frequently (Kroll, 2004).Em otional neglect and abuse is also an issue within a parental substance misusing environment. Children often either feel rejected and unloved by their parents as they rivet and spend considerably more time on their destructive garb than with them, or embarrassed and often also guilty (Kroll, 2004). Maintaining an addiction is a financial burden, not only making it difficult to complete household costs, but also regularly leading to criminal activity to barter for drugs or alcohol.Children of addicted parents are also more likely to be exposed to early criminal conduct and/or its consequences not infrequently because they have been with a parent while they had been committing a crime (ACMD, 2003). Although parents try and tend to hide their habit from their children, children in shorter or later discover it and typically have to deal with it by themselves which usually adds to a variety of already existent behavioural problems due to the mentioned consequences of parental substanc e abuse children tend to be more aggressive, feel upset or intense and show anti-social behaviour (ACMD, 2003).Negative parental examples and role models such as drug taking, alcohol abuse, crime, poor living conditions and inappropriate behaviour ineluctably can lead a child to view their parents actions as being normal and approved so that substance abuse and outrageous conduct by themselves becomes more likely as they enter into their teens and adulthood (ACMD, 2003).Research into child resilience has shown that expose protective factors can have an bulky impact on preventing children from being damaged by parental substance misuse. The field of factors includes having a parent not misusing substances, a strong adherence with a caring adult and support from extended family (Templeton and Velleman, 2007). Further to mention are a violence-free home, sufficient financial resources and an upstanding support system as well as educational success and involvement in different act ivities (19?). Working towards personal goals and dreams, taking education or flight opportunities or even leaving the parental home are also common strategies to deal with experiencing substance abuse at home (Templeton and Velleman, 2007).Parents more often than not are aware of the negative consequences and influence on their children, and they often experience a range of impacts as a result of their weakness which what is more will have follow-on affects for their children, for example in their parenting capacity. Many of them have undergo difficult childhoods and were poorly parented themselves in this cases drugs or alcohol are often used to deal with a range of traumas and tension associated (Alison, 2000).PROFESSIONALSIt is the reliability and function of all genres of professionals and agencies including general practitioners, health visitors, doctors, midwifes, pediatricians, mental health services, family support services, treatment institutions, social services, p olice, educational settings and voluntary sectors to safeguard and protect children. Safeguarding is fit to keep children safe from harm and abuse both deliberate abuse as well as accidents, bullying and crime and to promote their offbeat and development in a healthy and safe environment (HM Government, 2006). Everyone having fall into place with children must be aware that it is not acceptable to bide sidelined if a child is in need or risk of harm (Lord Laming, 2003). However, it is notable that each professional recognizes and accepts the limitations of his own roles and values the essential share of others (Keen and Alison, 2001) otherwise everyones duty and the mission to put a childs welfare first soon gets lost and remains no ones responsibility (Inter-Agency Guidelines, (2008).ChallengesWhen encountering parental substance abuse, all professionals face a series of dilemmas, conflicts and tensions in their work with children and adults. They often entirely feel un explicated and lack the expertise, skills and training to focus and work effectively with adults and children to the same purpose, and even if they do have the proper training, professionals often just do not see their role in engaging with children or substance misusing parents (Templeton and Velleman, 2007). Professionals interviewed by Taylor and Kroll (2004) stated one after another that they lack training which covers child safeguarding and apology processes and feel inexperienced to work with children of drug and alcohol users, children in need or risk of harm. Additionally, there seems to be a common confusion among different agencies regarding their individual roles and therefore parceling of clear responsibilities. A large part of these issues lay in the individual and independent development of substance misuse services and child welfare approaches over the last years. While adult treatment services place the substance abusers first and often do not involve alive child ren, the primary purpose of child security department agencies are solely the children, slackly not taking into account parents needs (Colby and Murrell, 1998 in Taylor and Kroll, 2004). But agencies working with children must also take into account the situation and the problems of the respective parents, being aware of the impact parents behaviour have on children. At the same time, services for adults must not ignore existing children, so a great cooperation between agencies and services is needed (Templeton and Velleman, 2007). Professionals and agencies have to deal with parents who may bot be easy to engage with, who may not want to collaborate with them, are reluctant to open up, tell the truth or prepare to change (Nottingham City ACPC, 2004). Therefore it can be a challenge to obtain, establish and maintain trusting relationships with either the parents or the effected children (Inter-Agency Guidelines, 2008). On the other hand, families with a drug and/or alcohol proble m fear a range of consequences and rejection by opening themselves to professionals, which usually keeps them in a twist of silence and secrecy, thus preventing them access to support and help for themselves or their children (Nottingham City ACPC, 2004). Parents are often reluctant to approach services and seek treatment, have problems to confide in others and reveal their drug and/or alcohol problem as they particularly fear that any disclosure could lead to losing their children and that their family might be treated differently, stigmatized or denied by others (Nottingham City ACPC, 2004). Although confidentiality is a key principle for such agencies, no organization can fasten it and in some cases, professionals have to share information, especially when a childs welfare is at risk (The Stella Project, 2002).SAFEGUARDING AND LEGAL FRAMEWORKAs mentioned earlier in this article, agencies, services and professionals in touch with children or/and adults who are parents have a vari ety of responsibilities to safeguard children, assess their needs and promote their welfare. In the United Kingdom, considerable legislative framework exists for this purpose, with the Children Act 1989 and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child as the elementary and reforming pieces of child law. In general, the Children Act (1989) focuses on improving childrens lives and demands comprehensive services to all children as well as tailored ones for those with additional needs. It also clarifies that if a local authority has reasonable cause to suspect that a child who lives, or is found, in their knowledge domain is suffering, or is likely to suffer, significant harm, the authority shall make, or cause to be made, such enquiries as they consider necessary to enable them to decide whether they should take any action to safeguard or promote that childs welfare (The Children Act 1989, s47 (1)). The Children Act also provides the legal grounds for the five Every Child Matters (2003) outcomes in law be healthy, stay safe, enjoy and achieve, make a positive contribution, achieve economic well-being.Later the Children Act (2004) implemented a requirement for local governing and a range of agencies engaging with substance abusing parents to rank first the welfare and safety of their children. Local authorities and agencies are made responsible to determine if a child is in need and/or risk and then to take appropriate steps to protect him from (further) significant harm (ACMD, 2003). Further The Children Act (2004) focuses on co-operation to improve and secure the well-being of children. Early awareness and intervention is critical to reduce the numbers of child protection cases but assessment is an immensely complex process. When assessing the welfare of a child, practitioners must work sensitively and child-centred, analysing the parental substance misuse from the childs position to better understand the impact upon his development and life (Lord Laming, 2003).For a more standardized, coordinated, early and practical way to assess childrens individual needs, the popular Assessment Framework (CAF) was designed and forms part of the Every Child Matters (Lord Lamming, 2003). The division of Health also provides the Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families, which is establish on a more ecological approach. Further, all local authorities are required to have an Area Child Protection deputation to organize and supervise child protection measures. When determining that a child is at risk of significant harm, child protection procedures should immediately be initiated to ensure that the necessary referral is made to the social services (ACMD, 2003).It is crucial that assessment is ongoing and changes are carefully monitored when a parent is in treatment or free from drugs or alcohol dependence it does not needfully mean that children do not longer suffer from any adverse consequences (Nottingham City ACPC, 2004). Further, if no concerns regarding the well-being of a child are established, professionals should remain in connection with the family and carefully observe them as harmless situations often quickly change into an unpredictable environment for the child (Newcastle Child Protection, 2002). proceedOver the last years, there has been a wide range of Government initiatives, programmes, strategies and policies aimed at tackling (parental) substance misuse. The Updated Drug Strategy for England 2002, Models of Care for Alcohol Misusers, the greenness Paper on Children at fortune, Extended Schools, the Childrens National Service Framework, current Start and Early Excellence Centres, mentioned above, are only some examples of key initiatives (ACMD, 2003 The Stella Project, 2002)The Updated Drug Strategy for England in general specifies a variety of actions undertaken by the Government to tackle drug use and restrict the access to programme A (heroin, cocaine) drugs. Further it acknowledges that there is not enough attention given over to children of drug dependent adults and thus more focus on helping them as well as addicted mothers is needed.The Models of Care for Alcohol Misusers first effort is to identify, work towards and minimize negative consequences of alcohol abuse on children. In particular, this strategy also addresses abuse and domestic violence as the main associated problems with alcohol dependence.The Green Paper on Children at Risk is a strategy addressing a series of key recommendations of the Laming Report and aiming to implement policies to improve the life chances of children.The concept behind the Extended Schools project, initiated by the section for Education and Skills, is that schools could create stronger relationships parents and children, motivate their pupils and so lecture standards by fling a wider service such as adult education, health services and childcare.The Childrens National Service Framework main goal is to reduce inequalities in health and social services as well as upgrading the boilersuit standard of such services. The scheme specifically concentrates on the needs of children of drug and alcohol abusers.Sure Start provides different services and support of all kind to all families in more disadvantaged areas and in cases of parental substance misuse, the Sure Start team will seek advice, refer to and work closely with the relevant practitioners and agencies. Early Excellence Centres were established to raise childrens welfare and development by working coordinated with other friendship agencies and offering advice, support, childcare, health services and early learning.With a comprehensive legislative framework already established in the United Kingdom and several initiatives and programmes running, it does not seem especially needed to modify existing legislations or implement new ones or start more projects to protect children effectively. Nevertheless, those already existing mus t be fully understood and applied by practitioners in all areas, and everyone must clearly understand his responsibilities and those of the others (Lord Lamming, 2003).However, the death of the children minor P and Victoria Climbi are tragic examples of the failings in the child protection system.Despite considerable commitment and progress made so far, challenges remain in the protection of children and their safeguarding as well as in the daily reality of practitioners. The issues mainly surround training, adequate levels of staffing, improvement of data systems and information sharing and better coordination and cooperation problematically (Lord Lamming, 2003).REALITYThe exact number of bush league suffering under parental substance abuse known to social services is not clearly determined. In 1999, Cleaver et al. estimated that around 25 to 60 percent of all children in child protection legal proceeding were living with a parent having a drug or alcohol problem. A more recent study of 290 child custody cases in four different London boroughs revealed that 34% (100 families) where affected by substance abuse, resulting in more than 50% of all children in care transactions and over a third of all children on the child protection files being subjects of parental substance abuse (Forrester and Harwin, 2006). Both researchers also found that most affected children were under the age of five years.Information sharingAlthough the government set clear guidelines on sharing information with the offspring of Information sharing Guidance for practitioners and managers in 2008, breaching confidentiality, information sharing and data protection still remain some o