The Impact of Parental Substance Misuse

Why is the BHSCP providing this course?

There is evidence of parental substance misuse in 57% of serious case reviews (of serious or fatal child abuse). Serious Case Reviews highlight that professionals often focus on the issues faced by parents who misuse substances without considering the impact on their children.

Not all parents who misuse substances (drugs and alcohol) are likely to cause harm to their children, but it can reduce their ability to provide practical and emotional care. Some of the serious effects of parental substance misuse for children include abuse, neglect, emotional problems, educational difficulties, being young carers of parents or siblings, and a potential to later use drugs or alcohol themselves.

This course is included within the training programme as it clearly highlights these issues facing children and young people who live within the households where substance misuse is an issue. You will learn about what agency services are available to support the whole family, thus reducing or removing the potential risk/s of abuse.

Target Audience:
Professionals in children’s or adult services who may undertake, or be involved in the assessment or intervention within families where a parent or carer may have a substance misuse issue.

Learning Outcomes:
• Explore the complexities and myths of substance misuse vs addiction and behaviour
• Understand that addiction is a brain disorder – habit to addiction a slippery slope
• Explore the impact of substance misuse addiction on society/ family -who does it effect?
• Consider the impact on children (adverse childhood experiences) & parenting ability to include an awareness of the impact that substance misuse by a parent, and how this affects the child or young person and to understand the potential impact of substance misuse in pregnancy
• Explore how agencies can work with substance misuse / addiction in family interventions: risks / protective factors / child protection

Booking:

BHSCP courses are now booked via the Learning Zone platform. Agency Leads have been contacted requesting account information requirements for professionals who will require a Learning Zone account to view and book training from April 2024. Once an account has been created for individuals they will receive an activation email from the Learning Zone. If you need a Learning Zone account and haven’t yet requested one please email BHSCP@brighton-hove.gov.uk . Once you have an account you can book BHSCP courses.

You can access Learning Zone here: Brighton & Hove Learning Zone

Course Fees for 2024/2025:

Training is free for staff who are working with children and their families in Brighton & Hove from the following agencies:

Brighton & Hove City Council including maintained schools.
Foster carers.
Community/voluntary sector groups and organisations contracted by Brighton & Hove City Council Children’s Services.
Statutory health organisations.
Sussex Police and probation.
Early years staff (including private early years settings).

For other organisations including Primary and Secondary – Academy/Free/Independent Schools, and Further/Higher Education settings the charge will be £120 for a full day (over 4 hours) course (virtual and in person).

For courses April 2024 – end of March 2025 there will be no attendance charge for online webinars, selected briefings and training sessions under 4 hours (this is subject to change from 1 April 2025). Charges may apply for specific ad-hoc events, but this will be detailed on promotional and booking communications.

Charging for attendance was limited during Covid restrictions and suspended when the Learning Gateway was decommissioned in September 2022 but has been reinstated with the arrival of the Learning Zone in April 2024. Attendance charges will be invoiced on a quarterly basis as applicable.

Non-attendance and Late Cancellation Charges:

A £50 late cancellation fee applies to all BHSCP training bookings including conference places. The cancellation charge of £50 will be made for non-attendance without 5 days’ notice. Please note that substitution of staff at late notice is acceptable.

If a member of staff is not able to attend a session at late notice due to an emergency situation, they should notify BHSCP@brighton-hove.gov.uk on the day of the training or before, as we may be able to waive this fee in exceptional circumstances. Learners should use their Learning Zone account to cancel booked training places with more than 5 days’ notice.

Charging for non-attendance was suspended when the Learning Gateway was decommissioned in September 2022 but has been reinstated with the arrival of the Learning Zone in April 2024. Fees will be deducted from the budget code provided.

From 1 April 2025:

We will notify you of any changes relating to course fees and/or non-attendance/late cancellation charges from 1 April 2025. Changes will also be posted on the BHSCP website Home – BHSCP

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