Birmingham Children's Trust Children's Homes Procedures Manual

Drugs

Regulations and Standards

Related guidance

Amendment

In August 2024, information was added to reflect the reclassification of nitrous oxide as a Class C drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (as amended).

August 29, 2024

1. Definition

Substances are defined as any substances, whether restricted or prohibited, which may have a harmful effect upon a child, such as:

alcohol, cigarettes, tobacco, aerosols, gas, glue, magic mushrooms (amanita), petrol, solvents and all controlled substances such as nitrous oxide, amphetamines, barbiturates, cannabis, cocaine, hallucinogens, hashish and heroin.

It also includes psychoactive substances which can cause a very similar range of problems to the drugs which they mimic, including a risk of dependence developing with repeated use. Some appear to be more dangerous even than the traditional drugs they mimic.

2. Access/Use of Drugs and Substances

2.1 Purchasing/Obtaining Drugs or Substances - General

All reasonable measures must be used to reduce or prevent children from obtaining controlled drugs or other substances which may harm them.

If it is known or suspected that children are obtaining products which may harm them, whether off the streets, from dealers or traders of any kind, the manager and social worker must be informed and a strategy adopted to reduce or prevent it.

This may include engaging or involving the supplier, if it is safe to do so.

If the problem persists or is serious, the police, should be informed.

2.2 Aerosols, Gas, Glue, and Petrol

Medical Emergency: See First Aid, Home Remedies and Medication Procedure.

Managers must ensure that aerosols, gas, glue, petrol and similar substances are only used for the purpose they were designed for; and that all reasonable measures are taken to restrict their use to staff and children who are known to pose no risk to themselves or others if they have access to them.

The arrangements for the obtaining, storage and use of these substances in each home must be outlined in the Staff Handbook and Children's Guide or individual children's Placement Plans.

Nitrous Oxide

Nitrous Oxide is a colourless gas, also known as 'laughing gas'. It can be misused for its psychoactive effects - or to 'get a high' - by inhalation. It is classified as a Class C drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (as amended). Possession is illegal where the intention is for it to be 'wrongfully inhaled', i.e. for recreational purposes rather than for a valid use such as medical, dental or industrial.

For further information, see: Nitrous oxide ban: guidance (GOV.UK).

2.3 Controlled drugs or substances

Further procedures are provided in First Aid, Home Remedies and Medication Procedure in relation to:

Controlled Drugs;
Medical Emergencies.

Under no circumstances may controlled drugs and substances, other than those prescribed by a medical practitioner, be permitted in the Home.

3. Prevention and Planning

The manager of the Home must ensure that information, guidance and advice on the risks associated with harmful drugs and substances are available to all children in the Home.

Additionally, any child known or suspected to be at participating in drug or substances misuse activities must be provided with the following:

Targeted relevant information, guidance and advice to help reduce or prevent such risks;
A strategy for managing the risk, outlined in an Individual Crisis Management Plan.

The strategy should state whether, and in what circumstances, the police will be notified.

4. Emergency

If it suspected that a child is misusing controlled or harmful drugs or substances and no strategy exists to reduce or prevent the behaviour, the manager of the Home and relevant social worker(s) should be contacted and an agreement reached on how to proceed, this will include whether the police will be notified.

If there are immediate risks, which make it impractical to contact the manager or social worker, staff should take what actions are immediately necessary then inform the manager and social worker(s) at the first opportunity.

The actions that staff take will be dependent on the circumstances and the degree of offence or injury that is likely, but staff must be mindful of the following:

The overall responsibility of staff is to protect children, themselves and others from injury and reduce or prevent the likelihood of criminal offences;
If there is a risk of serious harm, injury or of a serious criminal offence and staff are unable to manage safely, the police should be notified;
If solvents are involved, allow air to circulate freely and extinguish naked lights;
If any person is unconscious, in a fit or convulsing or otherwise seriously ill, emergency first aid should be given and an ambulance requested. The emergency services should be informed that there are suspicions of drug or solvent misuse;
The drugs/substances should be removed or confiscated, preferably with the co-operation of the child(ren), and preferably by two staff, who must record their actions, describing what they have obtained and where it has been safely stored;
If children do not co-operate or there is a risk of injury or damage to property, it may be necessary to use Physical Intervention, conduct a search or call for police assistance.

No further action, beyond making the situation safe and attempting to confiscate harmful drugs or substances, should be taken without a manager's authorisation, preferably in consultation with the relevant social worker.

However, the staff should undertake the following if a manager is not available within a reasonable timescale:

Legal but potentially harmful substances such as cigarettes, alcohol, aerosols, gas, glue, and petrol should then be put in a safe place out of the reach of children or disposed of safely;
Controlled substances and any associated materials or paraphernalia must be placed in a clearly marked box or other strong container, sealed and given to the manager who must arrange for it to be taken to a competent authority e.g. pharmacist or doctor; and a receipt obtained.

When safe to do so, the manager and relevant social workers should be notified and a decision reached on the actions/measures, which should be taken. This should include whether the police should be notified.