Fostering Services Non-Smoking Policy
Related guidance
Liverpool City Council's Fostering Service has reviewed its policy and practice in relation to smoking in the light of national legislation introducing smoke free public indoor areas and in response to national guidance published by the British Agencies for Adoption and Fostering (CoramBAAF) and Fostering Network.
As a responsible agency, Liverpool City Council cares for its employees, foster carers and children who are Looked After in foster care. It recognises that smoking seriously damages health and can kill. Consequently smoking is positively discouraged.
Social Care professionals who make placement decisions on behalf of vulnerable children must give a high priority to the present and future health of those children. The rights of substitute carers to smoke must always be balanced against the rights of children to remain healthy. This is especially true for looked after children who frequently come in to the care system with neglected or impaired health.
Children in foster care should not be exposed to harmful effects of smoke, by ensuring children are not passively exposed to smoke within foster placements and by discouraging young people from taking up smoking.
The Fostering Service Regulations (2011)
Regulation 15 – Health of children placed with foster carers
National Minimum Standards for Fostering Services (2011)
Standard 4 – Safeguarding Children
Standard 6 – Promoting good health and well being
Standard 6.2 "Children understand their health needs, how to maintain a healthy lifestyle and to make informed decisions about their own health."
Liverpool City Council adopts a 'No Smoking' Policy at its premises. This extends to the car parking areas, in keeping with new legislation. Any visitors or staff that wishes to smoke may only do so outside the boundaries of any Liverpool City Council properties.
Similarly, Liverpool City Council's 'No Smoking' Policy also applies at all business meetings, training functions and Child Care Reviews. Persons wishing to smoke may do so at recognised break times, but only outside of any Liverpool City Council's property or premises.
Liverpool City Council understands that for some foster children, smoking maybe a source of solace. However, Liverpool City Council does not condone this practice and is proactive in educating the child of the dangers of smoking and will encourage and assist the child in breaking the habit. In keeping with the National Minimum Standards (2011) for Fostering Services, foster carers are expected to promote a healthy lifestyle at all times.
It is acknowledged that many excellent substitute carers smoke. There is also a national shortage of foster carers. Despite this Liverpool City Council gives the protection of the health of children in their care a high priority and will in the future, have to balance the positive elements of any placement against the negative impact of smoking.
The effects of passive smoking tend to be more serious for younger children; they are particularly susceptible to the effects of second hand smoke because their lungs and airways are small and their immune systems are immature. They are more likely than adults to develop respiratory and ear infections.
New carers will not be approved to care for children under the age of two years old, if they smoke, or if other household members smoke. The only exception to this relates to the approval of family and friends carers for named children were it would be otherwise detrimental to the child not to have the placement approved (Nevertheless, such potential carers should be offered advice and guidance about the impact of smoking on children).
Smoking arrangements and their implications for any existing or future placements with current carers, will be reviewed annually at panel and during supervision between the carer and the Fostering Social Worker.
Placements of children with carers who smoke will only take place, or continue, on the basis that the foster carers ensure that any smoking takes place outside of the house and well away from foster children.
It is acknowledged that children with health problems and disabilities such as glue ear, heart conditions and breathing difficulties, are more likely to be adversely affected by smoking. As a result, children with such health problems will only be placed with carers who smoke under exceptional circumstances, for example, if the foster carers are family and friends carers or connected others.
Under the Children and Families Act 2014 smoking is restricted when there is a child (person under 18 yrs) in a vehicle and from October 2015 it is now illegal. Both the driver and the smoker could be fined. However, it does not apply to e-cigarettes (see GOV.UK Smoking in Vehicles (August 2015) and DoH, Rules about tobacco, e-cigarettes and smoking: 1 October 2015).
(See also Section 5, Further National Guidelines).
Foster Carers should be aware that Local Authorities are becoming increasingly stringent in their approach to placing children in households where people smoke. Therefore, Liverpool City Council will not assess or approve any prospective Foster Carer applicant who smokes, including any member of their household, who wishes to care for children 2 years old and younger. This also applies to parent and child arrangements.
The recruitment process does address the issue of smoking in an open and transparent manner. Liverpool City Council welcomes all potential foster carer applicants and strives to be as flexible as possible; however, all potential applicants are made aware of the health risks to children of smoking and passive smoking.
Foster Carers who smoke must recognise the proven danger of passive smoking on those around them and in particular upon the children place in their care. All foster Carer's homes must be "smoke free" and foster carers are not to smoke in front of any child, (regardless of their age), in placement; this includes in cars or any other means of transport, and also includes whilst being out with them socialising, for instance at friends' houses. Smoking in front of foster children could leave them open to future litigation by any child who has been in their care and goes on to suffer from smoking-related ill-health.
By the term 'smoke free', Liverpool City Council means that at no time should carers smoke in their homes, cars, etc, whilst approved as carers with Liverpool City Council.
Foster carers who stop smoking must have done so for 3 months prior to being approved for a child up to the age of 2 years. Foster carers or prospective foster carers who have recently smoked must be made aware that they would be in breach of their 0-2 year's approval.
- The following rules apply for all Liverpool City Council Staff, Foster Carers, Short Term Break Carers and any other person who has care arrangements for a looked after child;
- Liverpool City Council foster carers must not allow young people to smoke in bedrooms and all homes should be smoke free. Foster carers are expected to discourage looked after children from smoking by ensuring that they do not provide cigarettes or tobacco for the child/young person;
- Foster carers and social work staff should not smoke or allow others to smoke in their vehicles while travelling with looked after children;
- Liverpool City Council disclaims all responsibility from children suffering ill-health from passive smoking related diseases or from smoking related accidents whilst placed in the care of foster carers who choose not to adhere to this policy;
- Liverpool City Council foster carers must inform the child's social worker immediately if they become aware that any child in their care smokes;
- Foster carers and staff should be aware of the risks to children and young people of smoking in their car prior to or whilst transporting children;
- Foster carers are required to ensure that children are not exposed to smoke when visiting friends or relatives of the carers or when other smokers visit their home;
- Foster carers should seek advice from their Fostering Social Worker, Child's Social Worker or LAC Health Nurse on how to support the child/young person in reducing their smoking;
- Arrangements for discouraging children from smoking should be discussed at placement agreement meetings and looked after children reviews.
All foster carers who smoke must comply with the new Government Legislation regarding smoking which came into force on the 1st July 2007.
QUIT
Tel; 0207 553 2132
www.quit.org.uk
NHS smoking helpline
Tel: 0800 022 4 332
www.nhs.uk/better-health/quit-smoking/
ASH Action on Smoking and Health
Tel: 020 7739 5902
www.ash.org.uk
Fag Ends
Support for people in the Merseyside area
Tel: 0800 195 2131
www.roycastle.org/how-we-can-help/Prevention/Stop-Smoking
Last Updated: January 14, 2025
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