William Eichler 23 April 2018

Government launches £4.5m fund to help children with alcoholic parents

The department for health and social care has launched a new ‘innovation fund’ to help local authorities support children with alcoholic parents.

The health secretary Jeremy Hunt today announced a £6m package of interventions designed to help an estimated 200,000 children in England living with alcohol-dependent parents.

Jointly funded with the department for work and pensions, the measures will aim to provide fast access to support and mental health services for children and their families where there is a dependent drinker.

They will also help to identify at-risk children quickly, including those undertaking inappropriate care responsibilities.

Around £4.5m of the new funding will go to councils while £1m will go to fund national capacity building by non-governmental organisations.

The new funding follows Government investment last year of £500,000 to expand national helplines for children with alcoholic parents.

It will also go towards the provision of outreach programmes to get more parents successfully through addiction treatment, and early intervention programmes to reduce the numbers of children needing to go into care.

Local authorities will be invited to bid for funding by coming up with innovative solutions based on local need, with priority given to areas where more children are affected.

‘All children deserve to feel safe—and it is a cruel reality that those growing up with alcoholic parents are robbed of this basic need,’ said public health minister Steve Brine.

‘Exposure to their parent’s harmful drinking leaves children vulnerable to a host of problems both in childhood and later in life—and it is right that we put a stop to it once and for all.

‘I look forward to working with local authorities and charities to strengthen the services that make a real difference to young people and their families.’

The £37,000 SEND Problem image

The £37,000 SEND Problem

Natalie Kenneison, COO at Imosphere, argues that the real SEND funding crisis isn’t just about budgets - it’s about the systems behind the decisions.
SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Housing Assurance Service Manager

Kirklees Metropolitan Council
£55,675 - £56,649
We’re building a brand-new assurance team in our Homes & Neighbourhoods service Kirklees, West Yorkshire
Recuriter: Kirklees Metropolitan Council

Trainee Public Health Practitioner

Kirklees Metropolitan Council
£24,404 - £24,790
Working within the Kirklees Public Health Improvement team Kirklees, West Yorkshire
Recuriter: Kirklees Metropolitan Council

Climate Change Officer

Kirklees Metropolitan Council
£40,476 - £42,708
Are you a passionate and enthusiastic Climate Change Officer Kirklees, West Yorkshire
Recuriter: Kirklees Metropolitan Council

Transition Home Manager

Durham County Council
Grade 13 £45,718 - £49,764 (Pay Award Pending)
Could you support young people to realise their individual potential and prepare them for their journey towards independence. NOT JUST A PLACE OF WOR Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

SEND and Inclusion Senior Specialist Support Worker (Communication and Interaction Team)

Durham County Council
Grade 8 £31,586 - £35,235 (Pay Award Pending)
We are recruiting a SEND & Inclusion Senior Specialist Support Worker to join our Specialist SEND & Inclusion Team. We would be particularly intereste Spennymoor
Recuriter: Durham County Council
Linkedin Banner