At a national workshop held in Cambridge by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) and NHS' National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse, the work of the County Council's Family Substance Misuse Service was featured as a model of good practice.
The workshop, held on July 24, brought together practitioners from across the country to share good practice in preventing harm to children, young people and families affected by drug misuse.
Particularly in focus was how to ensure that drug misusing parents who have children at risk of harm get rapid access to treatment, and how a joint partnership approach between agencies is vital in meeting the needs of the whole family in such circumstances.
The workshop was told of work being done by the East Sussex Family Substance Misuse Service which was developed by the county council's Children's Services department in conjunction with the county's multi-agency Drug and Alcohol Action Team (DAAT).
Launched last year the service is a pioneering partnership project linking the County Council with the East Sussex Downs & Weald and Hastings & Rother PCTs, and the Sussex Partnership NHS Trust.
It supports parents with drug and alcohol problems and helps to protect the well-being of their children.
A multi-disciplinary service, the front line staff include health care and addiction specialists working alongside children's social care practitioners.
It is hosted within the county's Under 19's Substance Misuse Service which has achieved national recognition as a model of good practice.
Cllr Meg Stroude, the County Council's Lead Member for Children and Families, said, "This really is very important work and strikes at the heart of our key commitment to ensuring the safety, welfare and protection of children.
"It goes without saying that children in families where there is substance misuse can be extremely vulnerable.
"We know that when parents are involved with substance misuse it can seriously impact upon their children and may cause a range of emotional, psychological and physical problems for them.
"This is about ensuring that timely and appropriate help and support is provided to strengthen and maintain family life.
"The solutions are often complex and involve a range of partners working together to address the issue for the whole family.
"When we launched this last year the approach was pretty unique. While these support services existed elsewhere typically they did not join up the parents' clinical treatment with the support work for the children.
"I am very proud of the work of our Family Substance Misuse Team and delighted that it has had this chance to showcase its work nationally and potentially help others."