Family support team

Who we are

Based in the adult substance misuse service we are a small team of specialist substance misuse workers with a great deal of experience in working with children and families.   We are made up of a specialist health visitor, specialist social worker and specialist midwife.  We are committed to the goal of helping families stay together. We provide expertise about ‘Hidden Harm’ to treatment workers. We are closely linked to other support services such as children’s centres, schools and nurseries, mental health teams, domestic violence units, social services and housing.

Our aim

Our aim is to help ensure children and young people are safe in their own homes and community, have their needs identified and responded to, while their parents/carers are going through treatment changes.

We aim to keep families together by working in partnership with adults, balancing the needs of the children without alienating or blaming the parents, but knowing when parents need to be challenged about their behaviour and the impact this is having on their children.

What we offer

We work alongside treatment workers to help with parents/carers who may need additional support at critical transition points, such as entry to or exit from treatment programmes or relapse.

We offer emotional and/or practical support; providing sources of advice and information so the adult knows where and how to get help.

If for any reason a service user is no longer receiving treatment for their substance use we continue to help them and their family until support is no longer needed, or is being given by other services.

Examples of what we do

• Child/ young person’s safety advice
• Healthcare advice
• Issues around school and attendance
• Childcare advice
• Reduce the risk of children being looked after by the local authority
• General advice, information and signposting to other support services
• Support and advice to help you to resume your children's care if possible

How to access the service

As a team we normally accept referrals from both professionals and service-users.

Where parental substance misuse impacts upon children, we can assist supporting parents/carers in addressing their issues and promoting positive outcomes for their children.

Contact details

Spectrum Community Health CIC
Grosvenor House
8 - 20 Union St
Wakefield
West Yorkshire
WF1 3AE

Tel 01924 330 500

Map

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