Written Question · S3W-05458 · Session 3
Whether it is confident that all drug abusers with children undergo multi-agency assessments to enable decisions to be taken on their paren…
The question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is confident that all drug abusers with children undergo multi-agency assessments to enable decisions to be taken on their parental capacity.
The answer
The Scottish Governmentis confident that frameworks, including inspection regimes, are in place to helpensure that the welfare of children with drug abusing parents is protected. Whererelevant, inspection regimes consider the role of assessing parental capacity andwhere weaknesses are found, appropriate recommendations to agencies are made.
Examining the qualityof local authority assessment and case management processes is an integral partof the Social Work Inspection Agency’s (SWIA) performance inspections. In 2007,the SWIA also conducted the first multi-agency inspection of substance misuse services,alongside NHS Quality Improvement Scotland and the Care Commission. This coveredthe level of assessment of parental capacity carried out by the relevant agencies.Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education’s inspections of child protection servicesalso consider whether children with drug abusing parents are protected and thatthe relevant agencies communicate effectively with each other.
The Getting OurPriorities Right guidance for working with children and families with substancemisuse states that parents with problem substance use should be assessed where theirpersonal difficulties affect their parenting and care of children. The guidancenotes that such assessments will vary in complexity, relative to the actual or potentialimpact on the child.
Examining the qualityof local authority assessment and case management processes is an integral partof the Social Work Inspection Agency’s (SWIA) performance inspections. In 2007,the SWIA also conducted the first multi-agency inspection of substance misuse services,alongside NHS Quality Improvement Scotland and the Care Commission. This coveredthe level of assessment of parental capacity carried out by the relevant agencies.Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education’s inspections of child protection servicesalso consider whether children with drug abusing parents are protected and thatthe relevant agencies communicate effectively with each other.
The Getting OurPriorities Right guidance for working with children and families with substancemisuse states that parents with problem substance use should be assessed where theirpersonal difficulties affect their parenting and care of children. The guidancenotes that such assessments will vary in complexity, relative to the actual or potentialimpact on the child.
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S3W-05458 by reference.