Cath Blair, Alcohol & Drug Worker, Children Looked After & Care Leavers 'face it' Young Person's Drug Service
Initial enquiry received by the Alcohol and Drug Worker was from a Looked After Team Social Worker regarding Stacie, a 15 year old on a full care order and placed with foster carers. She had become aware of Stacie's solvent misuse after an incident the previous evening.
Stacie had been sniffing petrol alone on a piece of unused land near her foster home. She experienced vivid hallucinations and the resulting behaviour led to her being arrested. When her foster carer attended, she was released to go to Accident & Emergency due to concerns about the physical effects of her solvent misuse. Stacie and her carers were not prepared to wait an estimated 4½ hours for her to be seen, so returned home.
Foster carers concerned about the risks of Stacie's behaviour both to herself and the 3 other foster children placed at their home (aged 4, 5 & 7 years). From the information they received from the arresting police officer expect Stacie to be likely to die if she uses again, and believe she has permanent physical damage as result of sniffing petrol. Feel unable to cope if Stacie continues to sniff petrol.
Social Worker concerned for Stacie's well being perceives a risk of the foster placement breaking down and is aware that there are few alternative placements for Stacie if the placement does break down (Residential Unit being the most likely). Stacie shocked by the previous nights incident, but aware that on many other occasions she has sniffed petrol and gained only sought after effects, so does not perceive it as a high-risk activity. Wants to remain in this placement.
Arranged to visit the home to meet Stacie and her carers together. Stacie involved in this decision, to reduce risk of her feeling isolated or disempowered. (Involving a young person and gaining their consent from the outset emphasises their responsibilities and ensures that their wishes are heard. This increases the likelihood of them actively participating in whatever intervention occurs, and the intervention being tailored to their needs.)
Met Stacie and both her foster carers. Described my role, and what the service offers. At the request of foster carers gave overview of solvent misuse (effects on the user, short term and long term risks to physical and psychological well being, possible reasons why young people misuse solvents). Throughout this was mindful of presenting balanced and honest information, presenting any information about young people's motivations for misusing solvents as a hypothesis, not as if I was assuming that I knew how Stacie was feeling. From this was able to get an initial outline of Stacie's experience of petrol misuse, by her body language / comments as the meeting progressed. Suggested a number of ways to progress from here, stressed Stacie as central to deciding which to go for. Agreed to meet Stacie on a one to one basis over about 4 sessions, as she didn't feel the need for structured support but recognised that meeting up might be useful as her social worker was not going to begin her 'independence plan' until her petrol sniffing had been addressed.