Getting our priorities right: good practice guidance

Child(ren) of Person in Recovery

I want relationships that meet my needs and protect me by:

Person in Recovery:

To me, recovery means:

Direct Service Provider

Can support people in recovery by:

Commissioners/Organisation Leads

We can support recovery by:

Recovery Markers for child(ren)

The impact on children can be measured by:

• Needing to be listened to in respect of how parental problematic alcohol or drug use affects me
• Needing one or both parents to receive effective treatment and support
• Requiring other responsible adults to be involved in my care
• Wanting a safe and stable home environment
• Wanting to be educated to the best of my ability
• Not wanting to be stigmatised because my parent(s) are substance users
• Needing my physical, emotional and social development needs to be addressed
• Wanting to be involved in activities that I enjoy
• Learning to cope when things are not going well
• Allowed to ask questions and be answered when I do not understand something

• Having people I can rely on
• Being loved and accepted as I am
• Having people in my life who believe in me even when I don't believe in myself
• Taking an active part in my treatment journey
• Having something to give back to my children
• Being a responsible parent for my children
• Being able to help my children when they need me
• Being determined to live well and take care of myself and my child(ren)
• Believing that my life can get better
• Taking positive action to achieve my goals
• Finding a routine and structure to my life that is alternative to my substance using lifestyle
• Controlling my symptoms so that they do not adversely affect on my life or that of my family

• Having responsibilities to promote and protect the wellbeing of children
• Assessing new attendees by asking a series of questions about a) being a parent, b) details of their child(ren) and c) nursery/school and other agencies involvement
• Sharing information confidentially with other services involved in care of adult/child(ren)
• Providing evidence-based care and treatment services to adults in recovery
• Ensuring that children are nurtured within a positive and safe environment
• Supporting children to develop constructive relationships within and outside the family home
• Actively working with other services involved in supporting parents and children
• Promoting peer support within service delivery

• Ensuring that sharing information between agencies is embedded in practice
• Educating staff on local child protection policies, guidelines and procedures
• Commissioning adult problematic alcohol or drug use and children's services that understand and promote recovery principles
• Creating systems to ensure professionals receive specialist advice and support to care for children living with parental problematic alcohol or drug use
• Defining clear roles and responsibilities for agencies.
• Ensuring that services in the area provide a wide range of recovery approaches
• Developing a culture of peer support within the local treatment model
• Promoting recovery and ensuring it is valued and supported by all agencies (specialist and generic)

• Improvement in the adult's physical, emotional and mental wellbeing (Outcome based) Outcomes Star
• Evidence of a home environment that is clean, safe and protective
• Improved/sustained attendance and performance at school
• Evidence of access to responsible, supportive adults and appropriate professionals (as necessary) to ensure child's views are considered at all stages of parents treatment
• Routinely measuring the child's/children's developmental markers
• Involvement in structured local activities/societies/clubs appropriate to peer group
• Assessment via GIRFEC ( SHANARRI) principles