St Mary s CE Academy Trading Cmpany Alchl & Substance Misuse Plicy Date: Spring 2017 Date f Next Review: Summer 2018 Signed by: Family Supprt Crdinatr Signed by: Grup Manager
Alchl and Substance Misuse Related Incident Plicy The Gvernrs f St Mary s have made safeguarding a fundamental pririty and are cmmitted t ensuring that safeguarding f children and yung peple remains at the cre f their wrk. Fr this reasn, the principles f excellent safeguarding practice are integral t the culture f St Mary s and every aspect f the schl and trading cmpany s wrk. This plicy supprts this cmmitment t safeguarding and shuld be read in cnjunctin with ther schl and trading cmpany plicies as apprpriate. At St Mary s all staff recgnise that safeguarding and creating a safeguarding culture is the respnsibility f everyne wh wrks at the schl. Intrductin & Aims Brxburne West Children s Centre Grup aims t prvide a safe and welcming envirnment fr all attendees. Child safety and welfare is at the centre f all we d. We aim t: Ensure that children are physically, mentally and emtinally healthy and that their families have healthy lifestyles Meet the requirements f the Healthy Child Prgramme Prvide evidence fr Ofsted f their wrk Prvide evidence fr the Care Quality Cmmissin Prvide prvisin in line with the Gvernment s Cre Purpse fr children s centres Cntribute t Hertfrdshire s wrk t achieve UNICEF Baby Friendly accreditatin Plan wrk with disabled children and their families in line with the Early Supprt prgramme Implement the recmmendatins f the Tickell Review and the revised Early Years Fundatin Stage which place increased emphasis n schl readiness, persnal, scial and emtinal develpment, cmmunicatin and language and physical develpment Establish and maintain an envirnment where children are prtected frm the negative effects f alchl and drug misuse Supprt parents t prvide a gd level f parental respnsiveness, physical and emtinal care This plicy supprts practice by prviding guidance that links t tw f the eight health pririties: Reducing alchl and substance misuse Child, family and centre safety All staff, parents, vlunteers and gvernrs are aware f the key dcuments and infrmatin arund reducing alchl and substance misuse. All staff receive a cpy f this guidance n inductin and have a respnsibility t fllw the guidelines and prvide families with infrmatin t enable them t make infrmed chices t prtect their wn and their children s health and being. All staff receive infrmatin and training as apprpriate t their rle which is recrded in the staff prfessinal develpment plan.
Misuse f any substances is nt acceptable anywhere within the buildings r grunds f the children s centres, r ther cmmunity venues which are used fr Children s Centre utreach wrk. This includes alchl which shuld nt be brught t, r cnsumed n, the children s centre premises r ther hired cmmunity venue. Prcedure t supprt aims t reduce alchl and substance misuse All staff have a respnsibility t prvide families with infrmatin t enable them t make infrmed chices t prtect their wn and children s health and wellbeing. When a family has been identified that may have substance misuse issues and/r ther underlying needs such as stress and anxiety, financial difficulties r dmestic vilence staff prvide infrmatin, advice and supprt abut substance misuse by: Referring and signpsting t ur Stp Smking Adviser, lcal specialist services including Spectrum CGL, Mind, Safer Places. Spectrum CGL is Hertfrdshire s main drug and alchl treatment service and can be cntacted n 0800 652 3169 Using the Early Years Drug and Alchl guidance dcument t prvide a framewrk t identify families wh may have issues with drugs and alchl Defining a drug as any substance which, when taken, has the effect f altering the way a persn behaves, feels, sees r thinks. Drugs include: Alchl, cigarettes r tbacc Illegal drugs such as cannabis and ccaine Psychactive substances such as benz fury, ivry wave, eric 3, diabl. Previusly knwn as legal highs, the Psychactive Substances Act (2016) nw calls these drugs psychactive substances Vlatile substances such as glues, aersls Over the cunter medicines such as paracetaml, cugh mixture, aspirin, cdeine Prescribed drugs such as antibitics, tranquillisers, Tramadl, Mrphine, Naprxen Actively encuraging parents t engage in centre services and activities Prcedure t ensure child, family and centre safety (Safeguarding) Staff emplyed by the Brxburne West Children s Centre Grup have an imprtant rle, alngside ther prfessinals, in educating families abut the risks assciated with alchl and substance misuse. They can help families t understand the risk t children s safety caused by lw levels f parental respnsiveness t meet children s needs, dmestic abuse and drugs and alchl if ingested. The prcedure belw sets utlines hw staff deal with alchl and drug-related incidents. The aim is t deal with incidents f substance misuse in a cnsistent and fair manner, with the purpse f ensuring the safety and wellbeing f all invlved, but particularly that f children.
A suspected substance misuse related incident may be identified as: Suspect drugs fund n the premises A parent/carer suspected f being in pssessin f drugs A parent/carer fund t be in pssessin f drugs A parent/carer suspected f being under the influence f drugs A parent/carer supplying substances n the children s centre premises, r at a hired venue The first pririty is ensuring the safety f all invlved, dealing with medical emergencies and securing apprpriate help. A range f respnses may be determined and emplyed after a full and careful investigatin int the exact nature f the incident. Staff discvering substances which are suspected f being harmful, illegal r requiring further investigatin must fllw the prcedures belw: If any child prtectin issues arise, nrmal referral systems shuld be fllwed Cnsider the need fr first aid, r alerting the emergency services If pssible, and if it pses n risk t persnal safety, remve the suspicius substance in the presence f a witness, taking it t the Grup Manager r mst senir member f staff present Recrd the time, place and circumstances f the discvery with a descriptin f the substance (but nt investigate the substance further) Where drug related paraphernalia, such as needles and syringes, are discvered, the Grup Manager r the mst senir member f staff shuld ensure that these are cllected and placed in a secure cntainer, t await prper cllectin by the Plice in accrdance with health and safety guidelines. They shuld take care nt t tuch the items withut apprpriate prtectin and shuld als make a nte f the date/time and lcatin f the find The Grup Manager r mst senir member f staff will seek the advice f the Plice n hw t prceed and n the safe dispsal f any illegal substances If a member f staff suspects r finds that a parent r carer with a child is in pssessin f substances, is under the influence f substances r are supplying substances n the children s centre premises r hired cmmunity venue must fllw the prcedures belw: The Grup Manager r mst senir member f staff must be ntified immediately ensuring that a member f staff remains with the child and parent/carer The Grup Manager r mst senir member f staff shuld raise cncerns fr the childs welfare with the parent/carer in an hnest and pen way. This shuld be dne in the presence f an additinal member f staff, and ut f the hearing f ther parents r centre users Cntact shuld be made with an apprpriate adult, authrised t cllect the child. If they are unable t attend t cllect the child r if there are cncerns abut their suitability, cntact shuld be made with
Hertfrdshire Cunty Cuncil s Children s Services in line with the Child Prtectin Plicy, s that prvisin can be made fr the childs immediate welfare Children s Services shuld always be ntified f a case f drug r substance misuse as sn as pssible after it has ccurred If vilence is threatened twards anybdy, the plice shuld be called immediately If the parent/carer takes the child frm the centre under any f the abve circumstances, the plice shuld be called immediately If there are cncerns abut the impact f a parent/carer s substance misuse upn the child(ren), the Child Prtectin Plicy shuld be fllwed References Brxburne West Children s Centre Grup has referred t the fllwing dcuments t infrm gd practice: Hertfrdshire Guidance fr Early Years Settings n Drugs and Alchl Brxburne West Children s Centre Safeguarding Plicy Wrking tgether t Safeguard Children What t d if yu re wrried a child is being abused (DfE March 2015) Infrmatin Sharing, Advice fr practitiners prviding safeguarding services t children, yung peple, parents and carers (DfE March 2015) The named persn respnsible fr Alchl and Substance Misuse Plicy: Alisn Ryce, Family Supprt Crdinatr Signed: Signed: Family Supprt Crdinatr Date: Directr f Children and Family Services (Grup Manager) Date: Reviewed: Spring 2017 Date f Next Review: Summer 2018