"Getting Our Priorities Right - Multi Agency Guidance and Toolkit for Parental Substance Misuse” aims to inform and support ongoing work to keep children, young people and their families safe and protected.

The guidance is particularly aimed at practitioners and managers within health, education and children’s services, adult services, and alcohol and drugs services who work with children, young people and families affected by problematic alcohol and drug use.

The guidance builds on national policy to deliver a localised toolkit for practical use in an island setting.

Ross Drummond, Independent Chair of the Outer Hebrides Child Protection Committee said: 

“It is important that all practitioners and managers who engage with young people and families are alert to Parental Substance Misuse and are aware of the importance of early identification, the process around intervention and the appropriate mechanisms to provide support. Multi-agency guidance is the correct way to ensure consistency across organisations and demonstrates the strong partnership relationships in this service area.”