Drug and alcohol services - improving holistic family support

1. Introduction

"All child and adult services should focus on a 'whole family' approach when assessing need and aiming to achieve overall recovery."

Getting Our Priorities Right (2013)

1.1 This paper seeks to provide a framework, in line with the national drug/alcohol strategy Rights, Respect and Recovery^[1] (RRR), Getting It Right For Every Child (GIRFEC), the National Framework Principles of Holistic Whole Family Support and other linked policy initiatives, for the development and delivery of a consistent approach for families affected by substance use across Scotland.

1.2 It is aimed at commissioners and service delivery agencies to contribute to improvement, stimulate service development, create opportunities for investment and improve accessibility to high-quality whole family approaches for children, young people and families affected by substance use on a consistent basis. This should happen alongside, and as part of, the wider investment in support for families across Scotland being driven both nationally and locally.

1.3 This paper aims to talk directly to a range of partnerships which have a collective leadership role in relation to alcohol and drug related harms. These include: Integration Joint Boards, Chief Officer Groups, Children's Services Planning Partnerships, Child Protection Committees, Alcohol and Drug Partnerships, Adult Protection Committees and Gender-Based Violence Partnerships amongst others. We aim to encourage and directly support a joint collaborative approach to improving service delivery and maximise opportunity for using resources to best effect for children, young people and their families affected by substance use through each local areas Children's Services Plan.

1.4 This paper provides a set of recommendations for local partners to help meet the holistic needs of all family members affected by alcohol and drug related harms. These recommendations, summarised in Section 11, are based on evidence, the views and experiences of a range of family members gathered through the "Ask the Family" engagement which is detailed in Annex A, existing examples of good practice, the current context of support for families and the current challenges commissioners and practitioners experience across Scotland.

1.5 At a national level, the Covid-19 Children and Families Collective Leadership Group have developed a vision and blueprint for improving holistic family support [to be published – link will be added to the final version]. As part of this work to drive forward whole-system change, Principles for Holistic Whole Family Support have been developed which are available in Annex C. These provide an overarching framework which services should strive to embed as fundamental to the way support is provided to families. The aim of this work which links directly with the Promise, is that

"Every child's right to support for their family is realised. Where they are safe and feel loved they must stay – and families must get the support they need to overcome the difficulties that get in the way for as long as is needed."

Whilst the reasons that families may need support will vary widely, including families affected by substance use, the support they receive should always adhere to the fundamental principles set out in Annex C. This delivers on the national vision that Scotland will be the best place in the world to grow up, where the wellbeing of families flourishes, and children and young people grow up loved, safe and respected so they realise their full potential.

1.6 This document gives more detail and focus on families affected by substance use. The aim is supporting drug and alcohol services to develop sustainable and effective pathways to access positive and consistent support for families which gives a sense of hope and recovery in how we deliver these services, stimulates the establishment of shared principles across statutory and third sector providers, implements national quality standards and indicators and leads to upskilling/training for the wider workforce in family inclusive practice and whole family approaches. The principles outlined specifically in this framework (Annex B, Figure 1) complement the Principles for Holistic Whole Family Support and provide specificity and necessary context to families affected by substance use.

1.7 This paper was developed in partnership by a multi-agency group. The membership of this group is set out in Annex E whichalso details the organisations and the family members who shared their experiences for development of this framework.