Guidance
Safeguarding children affected by a parent's alcohol or drug use
How alcohol and drug treatment and recovery commissioners and providers can safeguard children affected by their parent or carer's alcohol or drug use.
Applies to England
Documents
Details
Commissioners and providers of adult alcohol and drug treatment and recovery should use this guidance to:
- understand the steps they should take to protect the welfare of children affected by a parent’s or carer’s alcohol or drug use
- understand the implications and requirements of child statutory and practice guidance for adult alcohol and drug services
- improve joint working between social care and alcohol and drug services
The guidance includes a self-assessment checklist to help local partnerships:
- assess current policies and practices for safeguarding children
- identify what they can do to improve performance in line with guidance
- assess the roles and responsibilities of individuals and organisations within their local partnerships
Updates to this page
Published 4 December 2018
Last updated 1 October 2026
Show all updates
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Updated guidance to reflect current safeguarding policy and programmes. It also focuses more on workforce expectations and ways of working, the effects of stigma and trauma, and pregnancy and the perinatal period. The page also now includes a self-assessment checklist to support commissioners and service providers to assess and improve current performance.
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First published.