Agenda item

Dr Stacy John-Legere (designated looked after doctor) and Joy Edwards, (designated nurse for looked after children) presented the report to committee and provided an update on substance use and misuse confirming current position and next steps.

·  It was explained that number have increased for substance misuse, mainly cannabis, some vaping, alcohol and the use of other drugs. Thankful for the honesty of young people to colleagues.

·  This report represents a deeper dive into the issue, calling on professional leads and involving those children/young people placed out of borough. A risk and finish group also used in order to promote providing action and guidance for young people.

·  A referral pathway in Southwark is used and all staff in the looked after children team are trained and local services and systems are good and in place to address any issues. Further work is needed for those children/young people out of the borough. Also referenced work that has been undertaken and a collaboration with the council’s drug and alcohol unit manager with the council.

·  Efforts are being made to promote the use of the NHS app for young people to increase their access to support and enable this access. 

·  Plans are in place to provide further support to foster carers, social workers and personal assistants.

·  Noted the level of support for children in Southwark and the need to look at those who are not, which represents most of the cohort in Southwark.

Discussion

·  Noted work with drugs and alcohol team in Southwark and the self-medicating element that sometimes prevails for impacted young people

·  The need to ensure that young people are aware of what can be accessed to enable support

·  The virtual head referred to a plan to look at the whole area and collaborative work that is planned on student behaviour and substance misuse.

RESOLVED:

That the following recommendations be noted:

1.  That parity of offer for Southwark children looked after (CLA) placed outside of the borough boundaries be reviewed.

2.  That in partnership with Public Health: emerging substance trends be monitored and responses adapted accordingly including acceptance of intervention.

3.  That data quality and validation across health and social care systems with benchmarking of Southwark’s data against statistical neighbours and Southeast London (SEL) boroughs be improved.

4.  That a further report on this item at be submitted to a future corporate parenting committee.