Agenda item

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Communities, which provided Members with an overview of the work of the Substance Misuse Service (Adults) working with parents and other agencies to reduce the impact of substance misuse on children.

The Board was advised that Halton Borough Council had commissioned substance misuses services (drug and/or alcohol).  The service supported local people who had substance misuse problems. The contract was delivered across the Halton area by Crime Reduction Initiatives (CRI).

The Board was further advised that a key part of that programme was to focus on public health information and prevention agenda to reduce the number of individuals taking drugs and misusing alcohol ensuring robust and accessible information was provided to the residents of Halton. The aim of the drug and alcohol service was to improve health and social care outcomes and reduce the impact caused by addiction or dependency to drugs and/or alcohol, with a clear drive on improving health inequalities for local people.

It was reported that there was approximately 650 individual’s accessing the substance misuse service, approximately 304 had parenting responsibility. The service users with children living at home, 108 had been assessed with drugs as their primary substance and 46 service users as alcohol as their primary substance. In addition, it was reported that all new  clients into treament who had been identified as having contact with children at home were screened via the CART team for current or previous health and social care involvement. 

Furthermore, it was reported that CRI Halton had implemented a Hidden Harm recovery co-ordinator post for Halton. The change of the role had enabled the service to work more closely with both service users and their families and with relevant partner agencies.  The outcome over the past three months had been significant and positive as outlined in the case studies.  At present the role was working with opiate clients who were at risk of or already involved with children’s social care.  This gave the service an opportunity to work with these vulnerable families and look at the different support that could be offered with the aim of reducing the overall level of need and to ensure children and young people were free from significant harm. The role also enabled the service to look at the hidden harm within these families and to look at identifying any additional support which may be required by the service or partner agencies. The service had implemented a Think Family post which was proving to be positive for both the service and partners agencies and the families they were working with.

The following comments arose from the discussion:-

·             Clarity was sought on whether there was any indication of drug abuse in local schools and if so how many had schools and pupils had this problem.  In response, it was reported that this information would be presented at the next meeting;

·             The Board noted the number of children in Halton, with parents who suffered from drug abuse had been placed in care in order to ensure their safety; and

·             The Board noted and congratulated Officers on the excellent work being undertaken in Halton to address drug and alcohol abuse.

RESOLVED: That the report and comments raised be noted.