Issue - meetings

To receive an update further to the Support to Children at Risk of Substance Misuse Scrutiny Review.

RECEIVED the report updating on the review of support to young people at risk of substance misuse (pages 1-18 of the agenda pack) further to the 2009 scrutiny review, presented by Sarah Hunt (Drug and Alcohol Action Team), Wendy Tomlinson (Head of Service - Commissioning and Placements) and Duncan Mulvany (In-Volve).  A discussion took place.

NOTED

• The Common Assessment Framework (CAF) now included a section on substance misuse and a team worked together to provide screening and drug and alcohol treatment.  The commissioning of services would soon be transferred to the Drug and Alcohol Action Team (DAAT).
• There was a link between parental substance misuse and the impact on children but the other side of substance misuse was young people misusing as they became adults.
• Adults Services worked with Children’s Services where parents were known to be misusing drugs or alcohol and the police were also informed in cases where substances were obtained by children from their parents.
• In-Volve, a voluntary sector organisation, conducted group and targeted work with a pilot school, which was very effective and would be rolled out across other schools. In-Volve also provided advice to parents and referred them on to other services such as COSMIC who often worked with parents and children from individual families at the same time.

RESOLVED to note the report.