More must be done to protect children from parent's problem drinking, says Children's Commissioner

A recent report looks at the number of children affected by parental alcohol misuse and at the help available to them, calling for further action.

Download "I think you need someone to show you what help there is,": Parental alcohol misuse - uncovering and responding to children's needs at a local level [pdf]

Commissioned by the Office of the Children's Commissioner from The Children's Society, the report is based on research with children and young people, alcohol misusing parents and professionals who work with them in three areas of England. The report finds that:

• local areas are committed to addressing alcohol misuse but that the focus on the effect on children of parental drinking still needs much work.
• some local services for adults with alcohol problems, and staff in children's services, may fail to adequately identify children's needs and assist them in getting help or protection.
• local services do not all work together effectively to measure and address the impact on children of parental alcohol misuse

The research follows the Children's Commissioner's 2012 report Silent Voices: Supporting children and young people affected by parental alcohol misuse, which rounded up the known and unknown knowns in prevalence, protective factors, treatment/service responses and policy issues. 

Speaking after publivation of the report last month, Maggie Atkinson, Children's Commissioner for England said:

 

"Children have a right to be kept safe from harm and adults have a duty to protect them, and this includes the damage caused by parents' alcohol misuse. Parents and carers must be made aware of the effects their problem drinking can have on children and young people, and health and social care services must get better at providing effective co-ordinated responses. Problem drinking is frighteningly common. It not only causes problems for the drinker but also, all those around them, including their children. The social and economic cost is immense."

See also previous post about the Alcohol Hidden Harm Toolkit to support managers, commissioners and practitioners involved in designing, assessing or improving Alcohol Hidden Harm services for children and families. An Adfam report on alcohol harm and families was released in 2012 which higlighted abuse that some parents suffer from their children.