Smoking

Staff and visitors are not permitted to smoke in front of children.  Staff should not smoke on shift whilst responsible for a child, and children should never be aware if a member of staff is a smoker.

Staff should ensure that young people are educated about smoking. It is accepted that the more that young people know, the more likely they are to make good decisions about how to deal with smoking, drinking and the misuse of drugs / substances. Good communication ensures the right messages and information are passed on.

All 360 CRS homes are strictly no smoking/ vaping.

Every home should nominate a “Stop Smoking/ Vaping” lead – this can be any member of the team. The Stop Smoking lead should work to gather resources and information and lead the team in actively discouraging smoking/ vaping and encouraging children and young people who do to quit.
If a child or young person is known to smoke, the team should ensure that a cessation plan is in place to help them quit. This should be kept on file and reviewed, even if the young person is currently adamant that they do not intend to give up. Staff should be ready to support a child or young person as soon as they do wish to give up.

Adults must not facilitate a young person smoking or vaping in any way – this includes purchasing or giving them items or taking them to acquire tobacco or vape products – including from a friend or family member.

If a child or young person is acquiring tobacco or vape products, staff should actively seek to identify where they are coming from and take appropriate action. The legal age to purchase such products is 18, and it is not appropriate for any adult to be purchasing them for a child.

Smoking or vaping in the home presents a significant risk to staff and children/ young people and may place a young person’s placement at risk – children and young people should be made aware of this upon their arrival.

See: Rules about Tobacco, E-Cigarettes and Smoking (GOV.UK).

See also: Young People and Vaping (NHS).

It is an offence for shops to sell e-cigarettes to under 18s or for an adult to buy e-cigarettes for them.

The long-term effects of vaping/E-cigarettes on health are unknown, but it should be regarded as potentially harmful to health in the same way as smoking.

Some children/young people may already vape before they are placed in the Home. Staff should support and encourage such young people to reduce or stop vaping. Support is available from the Looked After Children's Nurse or the young person's GP. This should be discussed with the child/young person's social worker and addressed as part of the young person's Health Plan.

Staff are not permitted to purchase or give vapes to children/young people.

However, if a young person indicates that they would like to try e-cigarettes as a way of giving up smoking, they should be encouraged to contact the LAC Nurse, their GP or local stop smoking services.

For more information, please see: Electronic Cigarettes - Evidence and Advice on e-cigarettes (GOV.UK).

Useful Websites

Quit smoking – NHS

Using e-cigarettes to stop smoking – NHS

Young People and Vaping (NHS)