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Response to Hidden Harm in Northern Ireland
Davis Turkington
Senior Officer (Health & Social Wellbeing Improvement)
Public Health Agency
Background
• UK Hidden Harm Reports (2003, 2007)• O’Neill Inquiry (2007)
Hidden Harm(2003)
When parents use drugs:Key findings from a studyof children in the care ofdrug-using parents Hogan, D and Higgins, L. Dublin: Trinity College, 2001
Hidden HarmThree Years
On(2007)
Hidden Harm:responding tothe needs of children of problem drug usersACMD 2003
6 key messages• We estimate there are between 250,000 and 350,000
children of problem drug misusers in the UK – about one child for every problem drug misuser;
• Parental problem drug misuse can, and does, cause serious harm to children at every age from conception to adulthood;
• Reducing the harm to children from parental problem drug misuse should become a main objective of policy and practice;
6 key messages• Effective treatment of the parent can have major
benefits for the child;• By working together, services can take many practical
steps to protect and improve the health and well-being of affected children;
• The number of affected children is only likely to decrease when the number of problem drug users decreases.
Hidden HarmThree Years On:Realities,Challenges andOpportunitiesACMD 2007
Purpose• To describe and comment on progress on
implementation of the recommendations of the original Hidden Harm report
• To provide practice examples and information about implementation initiatives
• To identify key learning for the future
Northern Ireland in 2007 report“work in Northern Ireland to respond to Hidden
Harm has taken some time to get off the ground”
“It is early days for work on ‘Hidden Harm’ in Northern Ireland.”
Northern Ireland in 2007 report“There is clear evidence of progress in
England, Scotland and Wales in relation to safeguarding the welfare and protection of children of problem drug users. However, progress varies across different areas in the four different countries.”
Northern Ireland in 2007 report“The Northern Ireland New Strategic Direction
for Alcohol and Drugs includes a significant range of targets for training at both regional and DACT level……….However, there is no specific reference in the document to training to equip workers to respond to the specific needs of children of problem drug users”
O’Neill Inquiry
Recommendation 17(Mental Health / Childcare Interface )
• DHSSPS and Boards should ensure that each Trust puts in place a joint protocol designed to manage the interface between mental health and child care services
Scale of the Problem• Hidden Harm – partly because the data was
not being collected.• ACMD estimates extrapolated from what
data was available.• Did not include people who had problems
with alcohol but not with other drugs.
Scale of the Problem
• 200,000 and 300,000 children in England and Wales where one or both parents have serious drug problems.
• Between 41,000 and 59,000 children in Scotland with a problem drug using parent.
Scale of the Problem - NI• Problematic alcohol misuse is a significantly
more widespread problem than illicit drug misuse• It is estimated that 1 in 11 children in the UK are
living in a family where there is an alcohol problem. In the 2001 Census, there were 451,514 children in Northern Ireland: it could therefore be extrapolated that there are approximately 40,000 children in Northern Ireland living with parental alcohol misuse.
Scale of the Problem - NI• In 2007/08, 22% of problem drug misusers
presenting for treatment were living with children, which equates to 412 adults although the number of children is not identified. However, this is clearly an underestimate, as it only captures information about the children of parents who are seeking treatment.
Scale of the Problem - NI
• 40% of children on the child protection register are there as a direct result of parental substance misuse.
• 70% of our “Looked After Children” are living away from home as a direct result of parental substance misuse.
Interagency Protocols• Protocol to Promote Inter-Agency Working
with Children & Families Affected by Substance Misuse (Eastern Health and Social Services Board, 2006)
• Joint Service Protocol to meet the needs of children and unborn children whose parents or carers have alcohol or substance misuse problems ( Western Health and Social Care Trust – Health and Social Care Board, 2009)
Interagency Protocols• Effects of parental substance misuse on
children• Confidentiality/information sharing• Roles and responsibilities – Adult substance
misuse services and family & childcare services• Assessment and referral • Both protocols supported by training
programmes
Regional Hidden HarmAction Plan - DHSSPSNI• This plan focuses on children born to and/or
living in households where there is alcohol and drug misuse, including the misuse of over-the-counter and prescribed medication.
• Regional framework for the development of local Hidden Harm action plans.
Public Health Agency/Health and Social Care Board
Hidden Harm Action Plan
Approved by DHSSPSNI October 2009
Policy Context• New Strategic Direction for Alcohol and Drugs
2006-2011• Our children and young people, our shared
responsibilities 2006• Our Children and Young People – Our Pledge
2006• Care Matters in Northern Ireland 2009• Families Matter: Supporting Families in Northern
Ireland 2009
Principles• The welfare of the child should be the
paramount consideration. • Work with the complexity of the issue. • A non-judgmental approach • A shared commitment and response • Provision to respond to the needs of children
and families affected should be integrated within mainstream Children's and Adult services
Principles• A focus on prevention and early identification• Not all families affected by substance misuse
will experience difficulties • Parental substance misuse may have
significant and damaging consequences for children
• Building on family strengths
Principles
Services need to be based on:• What children say they need• What parents/carers say they need• Evaluation of effectiveness.
Baseline for Hidden Harm
Baseline for Hidden Harm
Training and workforce
development
Training and workforce
development
Public awareness
Public awareness
J Joint protocols
ont protocols
P PREVENTIONREVENTION
EARLY INTERVENTIONEARLY INTERVENTION
FAMILY SUPPORT
FAMILY SUPPORT
SAFEGUARDINGAFEGUARDING
COMPLEX NEEDS
COMPLEX
Continuum of Service
Provision
ei Provision
Structure
Priority Areas• Training and Workforce Development
(Regional)• Joint Leadership and Interagency Working
Arrangements (Regional)• Hidden Harm Information Baseline (Regional)• Public Awareness and Good Practice
(Regional)• Continuum of Services (Local)
Implementation
Regional Hidden Harm Quality Assurance Group
Local Implementation Groups
Northern LIG
Eastern LIG
Southern LIG
Western LIG
Projects/servicesExamples:• Joint Agreement between Adult and
Children’s Services in responding to the needs of Parents with Mental Health issues and/or Substance Misuse, Their Children and Families
• PHAROS project (Barnardos)• Steps to Cope
Projects/services
• Midwifery training• Taking the Lid Off• NSPCC awareness raising campaign
Baseline and monitoring data• Gateway services• Addiction Services• Children's Services Planning• + services such as:
School counselling Youth service Sure start Youth justice