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New smoking policy will safeguard children
Council striving to bring up looked after children in a
smoke-free environment
Looked after children in Redbridge will no longer be placed with
foster carers who smoke if a new smoking policy is agreed by the
Cabinet, to give them the best possible start in life.
Redbridge Council's Cabinet will meet on Tuesday, 4 November to
discuss the new policy which would ensure that from January 2010,
other than exceptional circumstances, you will not be able to
foster children if you smoke.
The Cabinet will rule on the decision to limit looked after
children and young people's exposure to the damaging effects of
passive and second hand smoke from cigarettes, cigars and pipe
tobacco.
If approved, the new smoking policy will apply to foster carers,
shared carers, respite carers, kinship carers and supported
lodgings providers. It will not extend to private foster
carers.
Cllr Michael Stark, Cabinet Member for Children's Services said,
"While the Council recognises the proven skills and abilities of
its carers who smoke, it is essential that the health of our looked
after children is protected.
"Unlike adults, children have little choice about whether or not
to be in a smoky environment so I hope the Cabinet will take the
decision to limit the harmful effects this drug can have on
them."
Under the new policy all new applicants who smoke will be
advised at an early stage of the process that their smoking habits
will be taken into consideration along with other health
issues.
The new policy has been developed to address the impact that
passive or second hand smoking has on health.
Recent scientific evidence has shown that "secondhand smoke is a
cause of lung cancer and childhood respiratory disease," and that
young children are particularly susceptible to the effects of
secondhand smoke because their lungs and airways are small and
their immune systems are immature.
This means children exposed to smoke are at an increased risk of
cot death, asthma, middle ear disease pneumonia and bronchitis.
All existing carers will have a discussion about smoking at
their annual review and during home visits. No children under five,
those with a disability who are unable to play outside or those
with respiratory problems will be placed in a smoking
household.
Norma Gregory, Chairperson of the Redbridge Foster Care
Association, said: "Foster carers in Redbridge think this is a good
idea and would support anything that safeguards children. However
they have been aware of the impact that passive smoking has on
children's health for the past three years and most either don't
smoke because they have kicked the habit or if they do, they don't
smoke in the company of children."
Redbridge Council will offer support to its current foster
carers who smoke to help them give up.
Those wishing to give up will be given support and advice from
their supervising social worker, will be given information and
training on the effects of passive smoking on children and adult
health, offered smoking cessation programmes and offered help with
nicotine patches.
But come January 2010 only non-smoking carers will be recruited
in Redbridge!