What procedures are in place to assist schools and agencies to deal with pupils involved in serious drug misuse.

In schools the Guidelinesfor the Management of Incidents of Drug Misuse provides headteachers andother school staff with guidance on responding to information, allegation orevidence that children are misusing drugs within the school premises orgrounds. The guidelines also suggest that all schools should have writtenprocedures in place for dealing with drug related incidents.
Getting Our Priorities Right,guidance issued in 2003 to all agencies sets out detailed advice topractitioners on helping them decide, in relation to drug abuse, when a childneeds help. It also includes information on supporting parenting skills,assessment, inter agency working and information sharing, thresholds andprocedures for deciding when to remove children, and guidance on care plans.
TheSafe and Well handbook on child protection in school identifies signs ofdrug misuse and sets out clear steps to take where there are concerns over thewelfare of a child. All school staff have a role in ensuring children’s safetyand the designated child protection co-ordinator in school co-ordinatesinformation and action about concerns raised, including liaison with otheragencies to support investigations and child welfare. Education authorities andschools follow local child protection procedures, for which Safe and Wellprovides a benchmark.
All children andyoung people at risk who appear to need compulsory measures of supervision mustbe referred to the Principal Reporter under section 52 (2) of the Children (S)Act 1995. The main sources of referrals are the police and social work, butother agencies such as health or education can make a referral, as well as anymember of the public or even the child him/herself.
The reporter willdecide either to take no further action; to convene a children’s hearing; or torefer to the authority for advice,guidance or assistance as appropriate. If a children’shearing decides that compulsory supervision is necessary, the local authorityis then responsible for giving effect to any supervision requirement. A wide range of conditions may be attached to asupervision requirement in the best interests of the child.
The Executive intends topublish, within the next few months, an action plan which will address theneeds of children affected by problem substance misuse within the family. The actionplan will look at ways of encouraging better multi-agency working andcommunication, a process in which the schools sector will be a key player.