Date: 01 Mar 1998
Area where based: South Lakeland, Cumbria
Outline of Project:
Barnardo’s South Lakeland provides a support service for parents and children of pre-primary and primary school age.
A main function of the service is to provide support for children and families when parents are experiencing a substance misuse problem.
The project manages 5 Children's Centres across the South Lakeland area. It provides an outreach service, including intensive home visiting, play sessions and therapy, parenting courses and play promotion.
The focus is always on the wellbeing of the child. Parents are encouraged to understand that the project is not focussed on their substance misuse or ability to parent but rather on ensuring that the child's needs are being met.
Due to this understanding, the project is often able to obtain parental permission to continue working with children through periods of difficulty for the parent.
Aims and Objectives:
The aim was to provide a child-friendly, family focused response to the needs of children affected by parental problem drug or alcohol use.
The objectives were:
• To reduce risk factors for these children and to boost their emotional resilience to better cope with the impact of their parents' lifestyle.
• To focus on the child and their wellbeing, not on the parent and their substance use.
Outcomes/Evaluation:
University of Leeds researchers carried out an independent evaluation of the project in 2001 with positive results.
Outcomes include:
• reducing risk factors for children;
• boosting the emotional resilience of children;
• helping parents feel more confident in their abilities;
• majority of children are only in episodic contact with statutory services - ensuring they are receiving the help they need;
• pulling together professionals from across the spectrum to ensure children's needs are addressed;
• individual children have tailor-made outcomes - it is clear to see when they are progressing and developing.
Date Added: 09 Jun 2010
