The Government's Children's Social Care Innovation Programme has enabled approaches like the Family Drug and Alcohol Court (FDAC) to be tried and tested in order to develop and spread new and more effective ways of supporting vulnerable children.

We recognise the positive results the FDAC achieves as evidenced in the latest research report published by Lancaster University[1]. This research published in September – and funded by the Department for Education Innovation Unit - found that mothers reunited with their children after care proceedings in the FDAC are more likely to stay off drugs and alcohol for longer and their family life less likely to be disrupted when compared with cases heard in ordinary care proceedings. A linked study, also published in September, indicated that the FDAC model is being successfully implemented in different courts around the country, and the local Judges were unanimous in their support for the FDAC approach. The department has not carried out any cost benefit analysis, but earlier this year, evidence from the Centre for Justice Innovation revealed that FDAC saves the taxpayer £2.30 for every £1 spent.

I met with Judge Nick Crighton and members of the FDAC National Unit on 19 October to discuss the latest research reports and progress on implementing the FDAC project.

No decision has been taken on future Government funding for the FDAC project.

[1] http://fdac.org.uk/better-outcomes-children-parents/

The Government's Children's Social Care Innovation Programme has enabled approaches like the Family Drug and Alcohol Court (FDAC) to be tried and tested in order to develop and spread new and more effective ways of supporting vulnerable children.

We recognise the positive results the FDAC achieves as evidenced in the latest research report published by Lancaster University[1]. This research published in September – and funded by the Department for Education Innovation Unit - found that mothers reunited with their children after care proceedings in the FDAC are more likely to stay off drugs and alcohol for longer and their family life less likely to be disrupted when compared with cases heard in ordinary care proceedings. A linked study, also published in September, indicated that the FDAC model is being successfully implemented in different courts around the country, and the local Judges were unanimous in their support for the FDAC approach. The department has not carried out any cost benefit analysis, but earlier this year, evidence from the Centre for Justice Innovation revealed that FDAC saves the taxpayer £2.30 for every £1 spent.

I met with Judge Nick Crighton and members of the FDAC National Unit on 19 October to discuss the latest research reports and progress on implementing the FDAC project.

No decision has been taken on future Government funding for the FDAC project.

[1] http://fdac.org.uk/better-outcomes-children-parents/

The Government's Children's Social Care Innovation Programme has enabled approaches like the Family Drug and Alcohol Court (FDAC) to be tried and tested in order to develop and spread new and more effective ways of supporting vulnerable children.

We recognise the positive results the FDAC achieves as evidenced in the latest research report published by Lancaster University[1]. This research published in September – and funded by the Department for Education Innovation Unit - found that mothers reunited with their children after care proceedings in the FDAC are more likely to stay off drugs and alcohol for longer and their family life less likely to be disrupted when compared with cases heard in ordinary care proceedings. A linked study, also published in September, indicated that the FDAC model is being successfully implemented in different courts around the country, and the local Judges were unanimous in their support for the FDAC approach. The department has not carried out any cost benefit analysis, but earlier this year, evidence from the Centre for Justice Innovation revealed that FDAC saves the taxpayer £2.30 for every £1 spent.

I met with Judge Nick Crighton and members of the FDAC National Unit on 19 October to discuss the latest research reports and progress on implementing the FDAC project.

No decision has been taken on future Government funding for the FDAC project.

[1] http://fdac.org.uk/better-outcomes-children-parents/

The Government's Children's Social Care Innovation Programme has enabled approaches like the Family Drug and Alcohol Court (FDAC) to be tried and tested in order to develop and spread new and more effective ways of supporting vulnerable children.

We recognise the positive results the FDAC achieves as evidenced in the latest research report published by Lancaster University[1]. This research published in September – and funded by the Department for Education Innovation Unit - found that mothers reunited with their children after care proceedings in the FDAC are more likely to stay off drugs and alcohol for longer and their family life less likely to be disrupted when compared with cases heard in ordinary care proceedings. A linked study, also published in September, indicated that the FDAC model is being successfully implemented in different courts around the country, and the local Judges were unanimous in their support for the FDAC approach. The department has not carried out any cost benefit analysis, but earlier this year, evidence from the Centre for Justice Innovation revealed that FDAC saves the taxpayer £2.30 for every £1 spent.

I met with Judge Nick Crighton and members of the FDAC National Unit on 19 October to discuss the latest research reports and progress on implementing the FDAC project.

No decision has been taken on future Government funding for the FDAC project.

[1] http://fdac.org.uk/better-outcomes-children-parents/

Effective drug and alcohol education plays an important role in helping to ensure that young people are equipped with the information they need to make informed, healthy decisions and to keep themselves safe.

Drugs education is a statutory part of the new national curriculum for science. Under the national curriculum pupils are taught about the effects of recreational drugs, including substance and alcohol misuse, on behaviour, health and life processes. Teaching in this area can be further strengthened through personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education.

To improve the teaching of drugs and alcohol abuse, schools can access expert advice from the mentor-ADEPIS organisation on delivering effective alcohol and drug education in the classroom. The information can be found here: http://mentor-adepis.org

The government funds the annual survey of smoking, drinking and drug use, which provides authoritative statistics on smoking, drinking and drug use among 11 to 15 year olds in England. It has been run annually since 1982 and provides national and regional trends in substance use. The latest survey data from 2014 shows that 18% of 11-15 year olds have smoked at least once, which is the lowest level since the survey began in 1982. The percentage of young people who have tried alcohol at least once (38%) was also its lowest level since 1982 and drug use has continued to decline with 15% of 11-15 year olds reporting that they had tried drugs at least once.

The evidence is clear that pupils with better health and wellbeing are likely to achieve better academically and that misusing drugs is likely to harm a child’s health and education.

As part of the statutory duty on schools to promote pupils’ wellbeing, schools have a clear role to play in preventing and handling drug misuse as part of their pastoral responsibilities. Department for Education jointly published drug advice for schools and local authorities, with the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) in September 2012. The advice is available on gov.uk: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/drugs-advice-for-schools

Drugs education is a statutory part of the new national curriculum for science. Pupils should be taught about the effects of recreational drugs, including substance misuse (including alcohol), on behaviour, health and life processes. Teaching in this area can be further strengthened through PSHE education.

Effective drug and alcohol education plays an important role in helping to ensure that young people are equipped with the information they need to make informed, healthy decisions and to keep themselves safe. Schools have access to specific information about drugs and alcohol, including resources via the PSHE Association: www.pshe-association.org.uk/content.aspx?CategoryID=1027

The Department for Education does not collect this information.

Every looked after child must have a care plan, which takes account of their needs, including any health needs. Problems with substance misuse would be considered as part of this. The Department for Education would expect homes to support young people in dealing with substance misuse and draw in specialist health and substance misuse support to advise and offer treatment where needed.

Young people may refuse the support offered or may not wish to co-operate with a particular treatment or intervention. In these circumstances care staff and relevant health professionals will need to consider whether alternative forms of support or a more specialist placement would be appropriate in meeting the child’s needs.

Care staff will still need to work with the consent of the child or young person. Good quality relationships and trust established early between care staff and young people will support this.

However, in circumstances where refusal of treatment poses a significant risk of permanent injury or death, ultimately a court could overrule the young person’s decision.

Current statutory guidance for children’s homes is clear that:

“When a child or young person needs additional assistance to promote their health, the children’s homes staff should work with the child’s social worker so that they have proper and immediate access to any other specialist support required.” - (Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations Vol 5: Children’s homes para 2.49).

The Department for Education collects data on the number of children in residential care who have a substance misuse problem whether it is with drugs or alcohol. There are no plans to break that collection down into two sub categories. If children in residential care have a substance misuse problem – whatever the substance is – the support and services they need should be set out in their care plan. This government has introduced a significant programme of reform to improve the quality of care in children’s homes. The ‘Quality Standards’ for children’s homes, which, subject to parliamentary approval, will come into force in April 2015 include a health and wellbeing standard. This standard will be measured against the advice, services and support provided to promote children’s health and well-being and ensure they have healthy lifestyles.

The Department collects information on the number of children looked after by local authorities in England via the SSDA903 return. However data on the number of children looked after who have parents who misuse alcohol or drugs is not collected.

Figures are provided in the table below for assessments of children in need:

Number of assessments of children referred to social care where alcohol or drug misuse by the parent or carer was identified as a factor, year ending 31 March 2014

Source: Children in Need census

1. This data was reported for the first time in 2013/14 for initial and continuous assessments completed in the year. A child may have more than one assessment in the year and an assessment may have more than one factor recorded.

2. An initial assessment is a brief assessment and a continuous assessment is a more in depth assessment of a child’s needs where the child has been referred to children’s social care services with a request that services be provided.

This was the first year this data item was collected. Data was provided by around two thirds of local authorities so this information should be treated with caution.

Factor information is published within table A6 of the ‘Characteristics of children in need: 2013 to 2014’ statistical first release: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/characteristics-of-children-in-need-2013-to-2014

The Department for Education does not hold information on the number of children in residential care addicted to narcotics or alcohol but we do hold data on substance misuse concerning drugs and alcohol (but not tobacco). 9.7% of children looked after in a residential placement at 31 March, who had been looked after for at least 12 months were recorded as having a substance misuse problem.

Substance misuse is defined as ‘intoxication by (or regular excessive consumption or and/or dependence on) psychoactive substances, leading to social, psychological, physical or legal problems’. It includes problematic use of both legal and illegal drugs (including alcohol when used in combination with other substances).

Information on the number of looked after children identified as having a substance misuse problem is published in Table 5 of the ‘Outcomes for children looked after by local authorities’ Statistical First Release: www.gov.uk/government/statistics/outcomes-for-children-looked-after-by-local-authorities

Substance misuse by children who have been looked after continuously for at least 12 months¹ in residential placements at 31 March^2,3

Coverage: England, 2014

Source: SSDA903

1. Information on substance misuse is collected for children looked after continuously for at least 12 months as at 31 March excluding those children in respite care.

2. Residential settings include secure units, and children's homes and hostels subject to regulations.

3. Includes children in care for at least 12 months and placed in a residential setting at 31 March 2014. However, they may have been in different placements during the year.

4. The term ‘drug’ is used to refer to any psychotropic substance, including illegal drugs, illicit use of prescription drugs and volatile substances. Young people’s drug taking is often inextricably linked with the consumption of alcohol. Therefore the term ‘substance’ refers to both drugs and alcohol but not tobacco. Substance misuse is defined as ‘intoxication by (or regular excessive consumption or and/or dependence on) psychoactive substances, leading to social, psychological, physical or legal problems’. It includes problematic use of both legal and illegal drugs (including alcohol when used in combination with other substances).

5. Age as at 31 March.

Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.

x = number less than or equal to 5 or percentage where the numerator is less than or equal to 5 or the denominator is less than or equal to 10.

The Department for Education does not hold information on the number of children in residential care addicted to narcotics or alcohol but we do hold data on substance misuse concerning drugs and alcohol (but not tobacco). 9.7% of children looked after in a residential placement at 31 March, who had been looked after for at least 12 months were recorded as having a substance misuse problem.

Substance misuse is defined as ‘intoxication by (or regular excessive consumption or and/or dependence on) psychoactive substances, leading to social, psychological, physical or legal problems’. It includes problematic use of both legal and illegal drugs (including alcohol when used in combination with other substances).

Information on the number of looked after children identified as having a substance misuse problem is published in Table 5 of the ‘Outcomes for children looked after by local authorities’ Statistical First Release: www.gov.uk/government/statistics/outcomes-for-children-looked-after-by-local-authorities

Substance misuse by children who have been looked after continuously for at least 12 months¹ in residential placements at 31 March^2,3

Coverage: England, 2014

Source: SSDA903

1. Information on substance misuse is collected for children looked after continuously for at least 12 months as at 31 March excluding those children in respite care.

2. Residential settings include secure units, and children's homes and hostels subject to regulations.

3. Includes children in care for at least 12 months and placed in a residential setting at 31 March 2014. However, they may have been in different placements during the year.

4. The term ‘drug’ is used to refer to any psychotropic substance, including illegal drugs, illicit use of prescription drugs and volatile substances. Young people’s drug taking is often inextricably linked with the consumption of alcohol. Therefore the term ‘substance’ refers to both drugs and alcohol but not tobacco. Substance misuse is defined as ‘intoxication by (or regular excessive consumption or and/or dependence on) psychoactive substances, leading to social, psychological, physical or legal problems’. It includes problematic use of both legal and illegal drugs (including alcohol when used in combination with other substances).

5. Age as at 31 March.

Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.

x = number less than or equal to 5 or percentage where the numerator is less than or equal to 5 or the denominator is less than or equal to 10.

The Department for Education has been a strong supporter of the Family Drug and Alcohol Court model since 2008, and has worked closely with the team to grow the model and secure its sustainability. With regard to further financial commitment, I refer the Hon Member to the reply given to him on 14 July in PQ 204870.

The available data relates to the number of assessments carried out, in England, by children’s social care where ‘alcohol abuse’ has been identified as being a risk factor. This information was collected for the first time in 2014, covering April 2013 to March 2014.

The data is available in the statistical first release ‘Characteristics of children in need in England, 2013 to 2014’ and is available in table A6 in the National and local authority tables at: www.gov.uk/government/statistics/characteristics-of-children-in-need-2013-to-2014

The Family Drug and Alcohol Court (FDAC) received cross-government funding from the Department for Education, the Department of Health and the Ministry of Justice over four years (2008-10) to support its early pilot development. The Department for Education's contribution to this contract was £450,000.

The Department also gave additional funding (2010-12) of £150,000 each year to develop both a financial sustainability model for the future and a blueprint for the roll-out of other FDAC pilots in other areas.

The Department is currently funding The Tavistock and Portman £150,000 in 2013-14 and 2014-15 to continue the development and roll-out of the FDAC model. This money will be to enable FDAC to be developed further to be consistent with the revised Public Law Outline (PLO) 26-week time limit which came into force through the Children and Families Act 2014.

No decisions have been taken about future funding beyond 2015.

The Facebook drinking game Neknomination has gone viral, and very sadly young people have died as a result. What role do schools have in building resilience in our young people to resist peer pressure?

Table 1 shows the number of children, aged under 18, who died while being looked after by local authorities in England for the year 2003 to 2012.

However, the Department does not collect information on either the cause of death or any other factors involved. Information is not therefore available on the number of those deaths investigated by the police or the number which were a result of overdosing of illegal drugs.

Information is also available on the number of child death reviews which were completed for children who were the subject of a statutory order at the time of the death. These figures are shown in table 2 for the year 2011 and 2012; figures are not available for years prior to this.

The Department for Education does not collect figures on the prevalence of alcohol and substance abuse among parents of children who have been taken into care. Table A1 in the Department's latest Statistical First Release “Children Looked After by Local Authorities in England year ending 31 March 2012” gives the category of need at the time the child started to be looked after. The table can be accessed from the following link:

http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s001084/index.shtml

Some of these categories may be linked to the prevalence of alcohol and substance abuse among parents of these children.

Two studies have yielded some insights into the prevalence rates for alcohol and substance misuse among parents of children involved in care proceedings. The CAFCASS care application study 2012, “Three weeks in November....three years on” showed that of the 247 cases included in the study sample, parental drug and/or alcohol misuse was found to be a contributing factor to the care application in 61% of cases.

The Care Profiling Study (Masson et al, MOJ Research Series 4/08) looked at 381 s31 care cases completed in 2004 and found that alcohol was a cause of the LA's concern in relation to some 25.3% of mothers and 18.9% of fathers. Drugs were a risk factor for 38.6% of mothers and 34.8% of fathers.

From April 2013 the Department will be asking local authorities, as part of the Children in Need census, to record information about factors identified as part of an assessment of a child's needs. These factors include whether there are concerns about a parent or a carer's substance or alcohol misuse. The data will be will be available in autumn 2014.

Table 5 of ‘Outcomes for Children Looked After by Local Authorities in England as at 31 March 2012’, published by the Department in December 2012, shows that there were 1,900 children who had been looked after continuously for at least 12 months and identified as having a substance misuse problem during the year ending 31 March 2012. The table can be accessed from the following link:

http://www.education.gov.uk/researchandstatistics/statistics/allstatistics/a00217266/outcomes-children-looked-after-las-england-march-2012

These figures are compiled from local authority SSDA903 returns submitted to the Department in accordance with technical guidance notes. These explain that the term ‘substance misuse’ refers to both drugs and alcohol, but not tobacco.