SPECIALIST support can help families stay together.
That’s the message for families affected by drug and alcohol use in Wigan and Leigh from WithYou’s Family Safeguarding Team, which works alongside social workers and other professionals to support parents whose substance use is putting children at risk.
Instead of following a traditional treatment pathway, families are referred to the team through their Family Safeguarding social worker.
Jamie Livesley, team manager at WithYou in Wigan and Leigh, said: "Recovery is not always a straightforward journey, particularly when someone is also dealing with additional stigma and potential impact on families.
"For the families we support, there can be huge amounts of fear, shame and uncertainty.
"Our role is to work alongside them, understand what is happening in their lives and help them make positive changes.
"It can take time to build trust, and sometimes we are supporting people through a crisis, but that relationship can be the thing that helps someone believe that things can be different.
"We see every day that recovery is possible.
"When a parent makes changes, becomes more stable and is able to provide a safer environment for their children, the impact reaches the whole family."
The team offers intensive support, often meeting parents at home or in community settings such as Family Hubs.
One recent case saw a parent remain engaged with treatment and make significant changes after their baby was taken into care.
The baby has since returned home.
The team also works closely with Wigan’s Family Hubs, which offer a less stigmatised, community-based route into support.
Nicola Courtney, safeguarding manager at WithYou in Wigan and Leigh, said: "Family Hubs are vital because people can access support without feeling that there is a stigma attached to why they are there.
"They are there as a family, and there are lots of different things happening around them.
"It also means professionals can work together more easily.
"That opportunity to build positive connections and resilience can make a massive difference."
WithYou is encouraging anyone concerned about their own or someone else’s drug or alcohol use to reach out for support.
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