Resources for professionals
Free library of key documents for people working in family support
Click on the titles below to jump to the relevant section.
- Adfam's own research, toolkits and policy documents
- Data and statistics
- Parental substance use and safeguarding
- Kinship care and grandparents
- Strategies and policy initiatives
- Guidance and protocols
NB Some of these documents may now have been superseded, but are included to show progress and development over time.
Adfam's own research, toolkits and policy documents
Adfam's Manifesto for Families
This sets out the 5 key challenges for supporting families affected by drug and alcohol use, and sets out national and local priorities for meeting their needs. A Manifesto Review is also available, looking at what progress has been made on the original points of the Manifesto.
A partnership approach: supporting families with multiple needs
This report, produced after extensive consultation with partners across the country, looks at the challenges of supporting families with multiple needs across a range of services at the local level. Themes of the report include the complexity of families' needs; the importance of effective care coordination with the whole family; and the patchy provision of truly effective partnership work. Each section also breaks down the key issues for local authorities to consider in the designing and commissioning of services.
Recovery and drug dependency: a new deal for families
This sets out how families fit in with the 'recovery agenda' and discusses their own needs relating to recovery.
Developing inclusive and sensitive practice
This good practice guide, produced as an output of Adfam's Including Diverse Families project, details how family support services can make themselves more accessible to BME and LGBT communities and also looks at issues surrounding geographical isolation.
Supporting families affected by substance use and domestic violence
Produced as part of Adfam's domestic violence project, this research report investigates the attitudes and experiences of young people and adults surrounding substance use, domestic violence and links between them, including recommendations for policy and practice.
Becoming visible: substance use in the Somali community in London
Produced by Adfam's Somali Development Project, this report illustrates the support needs of the Somali community in London relating to drug and alcohol use, and contains useful information for anyone studying BME and substance use issues.
Working with grandparents bringing up their grandchildren due to parental substance use
This toolkit, a final product of Adfam's Grandparent Carers Project, gives a full account of the experiences of grandparent carers and the barriers and challenges they face in accessing support services; what they want and need when seeking support; and advice on making your service accessible to them.
Data and statistics
Drug Misuse Declared: findings from the British Crime Survey
This is the annual national picture of drug misuse in the UK, including breakdowns by age, gender and region, and data on the sources of drugs, the environment they're taken in, and attitudes to their acceptability. Trends over time are also identified.
National Treatment Agency: facts and figures
This website hub contains the latest figures on drug treatment. There is also a statistics hub on the NDTMS (National Drug Treatment Monitoring System) website, where breakdowns by month and region can be obtained.
Parental substance use and safeguarding
This seminal report is a thorough investigation of the experiences and needs of children affected by parental drug use.
Hidden Harm three years on: realities, challenges and opportunities
This report looks at the progress and implementation of Hidden Harm. The working group for this paper was chaired by Adfam's Chief Executive.
Working together to safeguard children
This extensive guide focuses on how services should work together to ensure that chlidren and young people are kept safe. Working Together includes both statutory guidance and sections of non-statutory practice guidance.
The NSPCC has a useful list of research reports on serious case reviews - including information on how many involve concerns over substance use and domestic violence.
A selection of reports and presentations from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine's project looking into parental substance misuse.
A child-centred system: the Munro review of child protection
This review, commissioned by the Department for Education in 2010, highlights the need to move away from process-driven, bureaucratic 'compliance culture' in child protection to a learning environment with renewed emphasis on the needs of children and professional judgement.
Kinship care and grandparents
Family and friends care: What if we said no?
This survey of grandparent carers - looking at why they have caring responsibilities, problems in their own lives and characteristics of the children they care for - paints a picture of the sacrifices and contributions made by grandparent carers.
Too old to care? The experiences of older grandparents raising their grandchildren
This survey examines the experiences of older grandparents (over 65) bringing up their grandchildren. This group are more likely to experience health problems and financial difficulties, and more likely to be caring for grandchildren without the support of a partner.
Strategies and policy initiatives
Drug Strategy 2010: Reducing demand, restricting supply, building recovery
This sets out the Government's priorities in tackling drug use across the UK. Compared to previous strategies, this places a premium on recovery measures; it also recognises the impact of drug use on families.
This document concentrates on the roughly 2% of families experiencing 'multiple problems', looking at how systems can be improved to work around the whole family rather than remaining too focused on the individual, and how to intervene with families at risk at the earliest opportunity.
In conjunction with the Children Act 2004, Every Child Matters is a set of reforms aiming to secure 5 key outcomes for children: to be healthy, stay safe, enjoy and achieve, make a positive contribution and achieve economic wellbeing.
Guidance and protocols
Supporting and Involving Carers
This NTA guidance recognises families' need for support and looks at how it can be provided at a local level. Contains useful information for commissioners and providers of family and treatment services.
Drug misuse and dependence: UK guidelines on clinical management (the 'Orange Book')
Information on various types of clinical intervention for the treatment of drug misuse, including family work and types of family support.
Guidance on the development of local protocols between treatment and family services
This NTA/DCSF guidance demonstrates how local drug/alcohol treatment services can develop effective shared protocols with local safeguarding and family services, including effective identification and information sharing.
If you feel this list could be added to or you cannot find something you need, please contact Adfam.
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