What is the aim of the IFST?
To provide a highly skilled, multi-disciplinary team to intervene with families referred by Childrens Services from Rhondda Cynon Taff and Merthyr Tydfil who present a high level of need and risk due to parental/carer substance misuse in order to reduce the level of risk and ensure positive outcomes for the most vulnerable children. This will be achieved through a sustained and system-wide focus on delivering quality services based on robust evidence of effectiveness and best practice. A primary focus of the IFST will also be to provide consultation and advice to the wider workforce utilising the knowledge, skills and experience of the IFST staff to provide 'an engine for system change' in work with the most vulnerable children and families.

Where has the IFST come from?
IFST has its origins in the WAG Vulnerable Children Strategy. The legislative framework is the proposed Children and Families (Wales) Measure, which was introduced in the Welsh Assembly on 2 March 2009. It will be underpinned by regulation, which is due to come into effect in early 2010 on the basis of new powers devolved to WAG. IFST will take place within the context of Core Aim 3 of the local Children and Young People's Plans with the aim that 'every child and young person enjoys the best possible physical and mental, social and emotional health including freedom from abuse, victimisation and exploitation'. Rhondda Cynon Taff and Merthyr Tydfil were successful in a joint bid to the Welsh Assembly Government in 2009, together with two other areas, Wrexham and Newport,

Who will be in the IFST?
The team will comprise of a Team Performance and Development Manager, two Consultant Social Workers, six Intervention Specialists and one Administrator. It is the intention to recruit Senior Practitioner Intervention Specialists from a variety of professional disciplines, including child and adult services, mental health, and substance misuse, Health/ CPN and Health Visitor backgrounds. This diversity will enable a variety of approaches and professional skills to be developed and delivered through the IFST.

What will the IFST do?

• Prevent and reduce any possible harm to children and young people who have parents or carers who misuse alcohol and/or drugs by providing an intensive service for 6-8 weeks that looks at the whole family
• Assist children and young people to cope with the effects of their parent's drug and/or alcohol misuse by providing evidence-based interventions
• Increase parent's awareness of the effects of drug and/or alcohol misuse
• Promote and ensure a safer home environment by building on the positive things that families already do and their ways of coping with day-to-day difficulties
• Provide courses for children and families who are having difficulties with relationships within the family
• Offer intensive support and guidance to attempt to stop families breaking up
• Provide intensive support for families where Social Services are heavily involved
  

When will the IFST work with a family?

• Children's and/or Adult Services have identified parent/carer substance misuse as a risk factor
  AND
• The family are at risk of having children’s names placed on the CPR
  OR
• Children's names are already placed on the CPR
  OR
• The family are at risk of losing the children to the care system if the family does not make changes
  AND
• The family say they want to make immediate behavioural changes and/or learn new skills.