An Effective Response to Hidden Harm

Download our Hidden Harm Leaflet

Phoenix Futures is the leading provider of care and rehabilitation services for people with drug and alcohol problems in the UK.

Responding to the hidden harms caused by drug and alcohol use within families, our units in Brighton and Sheffield provide an intensive substance misuse treatment programme for parents alongside a supportive environment for children.

The Services offer a comprehensive health and social care package to meet the individual needs of parents and children within a semi-structured programme. A wide range of therapeutic approaches are practised including psychodynamic, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Motivational Interviewing whilst maintaining many of the core principles of a therapeutic community.

The Impact of Parental Substance Misuse on Children

The main messages from the Hidden Harm inquiry by The Advisory Council on the misuse of drugs are that Parental problem drug use can and does cause serious harm to children across all ages and that effective treatment of the parent can have major benefits for the child.

Our Response to Hidden Harm

Both our Family Services provide a 6-month rehabilitation programme for single parents, couples, pregnant women who wish to address their substance misuse issues whilst continuing to live with and care for their children (up to the age of 11 years). The Services offer a stable and supportive environment that provides the opportunity for the facilitation of change through our intensive therapeutic programme for parents in the following areas:

• Families remaining together with significant and sustained improvement in circumstances, a stable lifestyle, increased awareness of and provision of children's needs (significantly reducing risk for those children on an 'at risk' register).
• Routines and structure enabling parents to undertake and organise daily tasks upon returning to the community.
• Suitable accommodation so that the family can live together, feeling safe and secure.
• Substance misuse - becoming and remaining drug and/or alcohol free, introducing stability and changes in attitudes and beliefs about substance use
• Improved behaviour and attitude (including criminal behaviour) demonstrating the individual's ongoing commitment to change their lifestyle.
• Financial issues dealing with budgeting difficulties, debts and unpaid fines to reach a workable agreement between the parties.
• Health - improving both physical and mental health.
• Education and employment helping parents to returning to education or undertake voluntary work.

Reuniting and Keeping Families Together

The Childrens Act's key principle is that the well being of the child is paramount and states that the parents should normally be responsible for their children.

Our Family Services provide the opportunity for Parents to remain the primary providers of care for their children whilst receiving appropriate guidance and support. Our monitoring systems ensure that parent's acquire the insight and nurturing skills required to care adequately for their children.

How We Support the Local Authority Assessments

The Family Service utilises a multi-agency approach, working closely with referrers, ensuring that all parents and children are registered with local health services, schools and that other areas of need identified through the care planning process. We support Local authority assessments through the following:

• Facilitation of 'Looked after Children' reviews and other statutory meetings
• Assessments and reports produced using the DoH "Framework for the assessment of children in need and their families"
• Regular progress review meetings, with reports, coordinating with the care planning and review process.
• Operate within child protection guidelines and legislation
• Open lines of communication and consultation in the decision making process
• Adaptation of programme to specific individual requirements wherever practical

We also offer the following:

• Groupwork/key work sessions
• Care planning, goal setting and review process
• Training and education packages
• Fully integrated detoxification service
• Multi-agency approach
• Ofsted registered crèche facilities
• Garden and soft play area
• Qualified and experienced workforce

Quality Assurance

There is a robust auditing system in place that ensures our services are delivered in an efficient and effective manner resulting in the best possible outcomes for our service users. Phoenix Futures family services are monitored through the following regularity bodies:

• CSCI registered ensuring adherence to the national minimum care standards
• Ofsted registered ensuring our child care provision is managed, staffed and operates within legislative criteria ensuring the best possible environment for the children
• Regular Proprietor inspections conducted by Phoenix Futures specialist operations managers
• DANOS and QuADS compliant

Further Information

For further information please contact:

Sheffield Family Service on 0114 268 5131 or by email at Sheffield.Family@phoenix-futures.org.uk 
Brighton Family Service on 0127 355 8645 or by email at Brighton.Family@phoenix-futures.org.uk