An evaluation of a children's drug therapy service

The small-scale evaluation of one initiative set up to try and support the children of parents who are substance users is presented. The service, consisting of one worker, aims to safeguard and promote the child's welfare through direct work with children and their families and through liaison and collaboration with a range of professionals. Data were generated through a mix of semistructured interviews with key professionals and questionnaires distributed to professionals and parents currently using the service. The findings of the study demonstrate how professionals and parents perceive that the service reduces the social isolation the children experience and provides them with opportunities for sharing their experiences with a trustworthy adult and with other children in a similar situation. Parents report benefiting from the service through the support they receive outside of mainstream drug, health and social services. Professionals benefit from the expertise that the worker has and the opportunity to work creatively with the children and their families.