Do you support vulnerable school children affected by family drug and alcohol misuse?
If you work in a school setting the answer is almost certainly yes. In the UK, studies show more than two million children live with parental drug or alcohol misuse, that is 3 children for every school class[1].
Despite funding cuts for many statutory services, the impact on children is well documented; anxiety, anger, social stigma, difficulties at school, relationship problems, behaviour problems, and higher instances of both substance misuse and mental ill health later in life [2].
The good news is that early intervention does work [3] and safeguarding leads, teachers, and pastoral staff in primary schools can make a real difference to the emotional and educational wellbeing of the children affected.
The BE project’s 2 hour online training session builds the capacity of your school to support children and families affected by drugs and alcohol through the challenges they face. It will:
Increase awareness of the impact of family substance misuse
Develop identification and communication skills to engage children and families who will benefit from support
Provide guidance and structure for difficult conversations with parents and carers about their substance misuse and its associated harms.
Provide a programme of one-to-one resources to use with a child affected by substance use.
Increase signposting to support services
Rosie Showler, the ELSA from Westbury Park Primary in Bristol came away with “a resource pack to use with a child over a short term, maybe six sessions”
Kate Harfoush, Family Link worker and KS2 Deputy DSL at Horfield Primary in Bristol “felt more confident talking to children and parents about substance misuse”
Please note, the training is most useful for school staff whose role gives them the opportunity to work with vulnerable children on a one-to-one basis.
And to enquire about future courses please use the contact link here.:
ACMD 2003, Manning et al 2009 2. Templeton et al 2010 3. Adamson and Templeton 2012