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Our advice service

Are you a parent, kinship carer relative or friend of a child who is involved with, or who needs the help of, children’s services in England? We can help you understand processes and options when social workers or courts are making decisions about your child’s welfare.

Our advice service is free, independent and confidential.

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By phone or email

To speak to an adviser, please call our free and confidential advice line 0808 801 0366 (Monday to Friday 9.30am to 3pm, excluding Bank Holidays). Or you can ask us a question via email using our advice enquiry form.

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Our online advice forums are an anonymous space where parents and kinship carers (also known as family and friends carers) can get legal and practical advice, build a support network and learn from other people’s experiences.

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Advice on our website

Our get help and advice section has template letters, advice sheets and resources about legal and social care processes. On Monday and Wednesday afternoons, you can use our webchat service to chat online to an adviser.

 

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What is meant by drug and alcohol misuse?

Under 1 minute read

Drug misuse may include:

  • Use of illegal drugs. The impact of this varies and will depend on the type of drug and how much is used
  • Misusing prescribed drugs. This may involve someone taking medication prescribed by a doctor even though they no longer need it. Or taking medication even though it is prescribed for another person. It may involve someone taking more than the recommended dose. Or combining medications, against advice
  • Drug dependency. This is when someone becomes reliant on a drug to function day to day.

Alcohol misuse may involve a person:

  • Drinking to excess to the point of being unable to safely care for their child
  • Being dependent on alcohol. For example, needing to drink alcohol just to get through the day.

Sometimes practitioners use the term substance misuse to talk generally about alcohol or drug misuse, or both.

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