Drug and alcohol misuse by a parent or carer has the potential to impact on a child at every age from conception to adulthood - Find a freedom of information request

Drug and alcohol misuse by a parent or carer has the potential to impact on a child at every age from conception to adulthood (Hidden Harm 2003 and 2007).

1) Please provide copy of all material held (i.e. guidance accessible to social workers on the specific subject and template referral forms) relating to the subject of dealing with: parents who potentially may have issues with drugs/substance misuse including criteria for when it is indicated that a toxicologist should be instructed to carry out an expert assessment.

2) Number of expert assessments the Local Authority were involved in the instruction of in the annual year of 2022 relating to Drug and Alcohol testing

3) If possible, in consideration of Re Y (Private Law: Fact Finding) [2014] EWHC 486 (Fam) in which a child underwent drug testing, please provide the number of under 16s who were subject to drugs testing in the annual year of 2022

1. The Lincolnshire Safeguarding Children Partnership (LSCP) Manual has guidance for professionals working with children and families where drug and alcohol use may be a concern (link below). This guidance has further links to advice/ guidance and training.

Safeguarding Children Affected by Problematic Drug and Alcohol Use (Parental and Child use) (proceduresonline.com)

Research in Practice have a number of resources which all Social Workers in LCC can access as we have a license to use their resources:

https://www.researchinpractice.org.uk/children/publications/2020/december/the-impact-of-parental-substance-use-on-child-development-frontline-briefing-2020/

https://www.researchinpractice.org.uk/adults/news-views/2019/april/working-effectively-with-people-who-use-alcohol-and-other-drugs-harmfully/

https://www.researchinpractice.org.uk/all/content-pages/videos/the-cycle-of-change/

https://www.researchinpractice.org.uk/all/content-pages/videos/why-do-people-use-alcohol-and-drugs-despite-the-harm/

Children's Services Staff work in partnership with Lincolnshire County Council’s (LCC) local provider for support to those with substance misuse problems - 'We Are With You'. Social Workers can support parents to refer themselves to this service.

In relation to risk assessment the SCODA Risk assessment of parental drug use and its impact on children Tool can be used by Social Workers in Lincolnshire County Council:

https://www.socialworkerstoolbox.com/scoda-risk-assessment-of-parental-drug-use-and-its-impact-on-childrentool/

In relation to the criteria for instructing a toxicologist the principles of necessity and proportionality would be used whether in Pre-Proceedings or Proceedings. In Pre-Proceedings then legal advice would be given in regard to any expert assessment and a decision would be made at a Head of Service level as to whether this drug/ and or alcohol testing should be undertaken. Within Proceedings this would be a joint instruction between all the parties and would ultimately be the decision of the Judge to make as to whether this is necessary and proportionate. Such an application for an expert would be subject to Part 25 of the Family Procedures Rules 2010. The guidance is also that the instruction of an expert must be necessary (outside the capacity of a SW or the CG) and proportionate.

2.

• 53 adults tested for drugs only in 2022
• 14 adults tested for alcohol only in 2022
• 50 adults tested for drugs and alcohol in 2022

3. No under 16’s subject to drug and/or alcohol testing in 2022.