Understanding the needs of children living with parental substance misuse: Perspectives of children and professionals

Children living with parents who misuse substances are a group of children who are overlooked in policy and practice. Although research has identified that parental substance misuse (PSM) can cause significant harm to children, responses in practice remain fragmented. This research set out to understand the needs of children living with PSM and of frontline practitioners in their endeavour to support these children, with the overarching aim to bridge the gap between research and practice. This research engages reflexively with qualitative research, adopting empirical creative methods, with the voices of children privileged at the centre. Guided by the principles of hermeneutic phenomenological research, seven children aged 7-16 years, participated in creative interviews, designed and analysed using interpretive phenomenological analysis with a total of four superordinate and 24 subordinate themes presented. The research design included three focus groups attended by 22 professionals, which were thematically analysed, with a total of three superordinate and 23 subordinate themes presented. Through a reflexive engagement with this methodology, the findings provide a rich and in-depth understanding of the lived experience of children living with PSM. A discussion of the findings focusses on the complexity of the lives of children, including the severity of risk factors and enduring harm. The discussion of findings also focuses on the protective factors in the lives of children living with PSM, including the value of trusted adults to mitigate and lessen the burden. The discussion presents an exploration of the systemic failings in legislation, policy and practice, set against a backdrop of continued austerity measures, outlining the need for a whole system response for children living with PSM. Through attention to the children’s narrative this thesis bridges the gap between research and practice, by proposing a model, informed by children for children. Further, a training model for front-line practitioners is proposed, to improve the assessment of risk and identify the needs of children living with PSM