NHS Health Scotland

 

Evidence
 

E . Evidence for multi-agency response and direct support to children and young people(Families model)

Summary

There is highly processed and review level evidence to suggest that direct support to children affected by others’ substance misuse and those at-risk, can improve health, behavioural, developmental and social outcomes.

Rationale

For child or young person affected/at risk
There is highly processed evidence from NICE Public Health Guidance that supporting the social, emotional and cognitive development of children can improve long-term outcomes (NICE PH40); and limited highly processed evidence (NICE PH4) that community-based interventions targeted at vulnerable groups can be effective in reducing substance misuse and improving other positive behavioural outcomes. [1,2]

*For details see Prevention Logic Model 1, Link B: Evidence for parenting and early years interventions.

There is evidence of effectiveness of improvements in coping strategies and social behaviours among adolescents where drug use exists in their family, across a range of targeted prevention interventions (family-oriented and school/community-based programmes). School-based programmes showed improved levels of knowledge about alcohol, drugs, addiction and their effects on families. Evidence in relation to self-worth and substance use was however inconsistent. [3] 

There is limited evidence of effectiveness of interventions to support children to develop knowledge and skills in dealing with issues in their lives related to others’ substance misuse (usually a parent’s). Group-based approaches were identified by Mitchell and Burgess (2009) in their Scottish-Government-commissioned review for the Scottish Child Care and Protection Network – reported positive effects are limited to understanding the impact of addiction, communication skills, coping strategies and improved resilience. [4]

 

Scottish policy and practice note:
The Children and Young People’s Act (2014) makes provision about the rights of children and young people; about investigations by the Commissioner for Children and Young People in Scotland;for and about the provision of services and support for or in relation to children and young people; for an adoption register; about children’s hearings, detention in secure accommodation and consultation on certain proposals in relation to schools; and for connected purposes.

Effective partnership working is an underpinning principle of Getting It Right For Every Child (GIRFEC) which has a focus on early, proactive intervention in order to create a supportive environment and identify any additional supports for a family that may be required. To help ensure effective working, all agencies should embed the GIRFEC National Practice Model: (in particular the shared understanding of a child’s wellbeing, the role of the Named Person and also the Lead Professional) into local protocols for tackling substance use. Strengths and challenges of multi-agency working are outlined in the guidance, together with practice points for joint working, including enablers and barriers. One key aspect defined in the guidance in making effective decisions in determining the degree of risk to the child is good inter-agency communication and collaboration at all stages – i.e. in assessment, planning and intervention.

Reversing the Trend is a joint project involving six voluntary youth work organisations, Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland’s Partnership Drugs Initiative and Evaluation Support Scotland about the role the youth sector plays in preventing problem substance use by young people.

The purpose is to offer an insight into what outcomes can be achieved by providing preventative approaches from universal help through to more specialist support for young people – and how to evaluate them. The resource focuses on substance use but recognises that youth work also contributes to other cross-cutting issues facing young people.

 

References:

  1. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE, 2012) Public health guidance 40 Social and emotional wellbeing: early years. London: NICE. Available from: http://guidance.nice.org.uk/PH40/Guidance/pdf/English

  2. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) Public Health Guidance Intervention 4: Community-based interventions to reduce substance misuse among vulnerable and disadvantaged children and young people. Available at: http://guidance.nice.org.uk/PH4

  3. Broning, S. Kumpfer, K. Kruse, K. Sack, P. M. Schaunig-Busch, I. Ruths, S. Moesgen, D. Pflug, E. Klein, M. Thomasius, R. (2012) Selective prevention programs for children from substance-affected families: a comprehensive systematic review. Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy ;7(23).

  4. Mitchell, F. Burgess, C. (2009) Working with families affected by parental substance misuse: a research review. Edinburgh: Scottish Child Care and Protection Network, Scottish Government.