Smoking
Relevant Regulations
Staff and visitors are not permitted to smoke in front of children. The Home may have a designated area, where staff may smoke.
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.
Some children/young people may already smoke before they are placed in the Home. Staff should support and encourage such young people to reduce or stop smoking. 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 cigarettes, tobacco, or the materials for making or lighting cigarettes or tobacco to children.
Should there be any concerns staff may conduct a room search in line with the Searching Children/Bedrooms Policy. Any smoking or vaping paraphernalia found may be seized.
See: Rules about Tobacco, E-Cigarettes and Smoking (GOV.UK).
Staff and visitors are not permitted to use vapes or e-cigarettes in front of children. The Home may have a designated area, where staff/visitors may smoke/vape.
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 and visitors are not permitted to vape in front of children. The Home may have a designated area, where staff may smoke/vape.
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).
Staff are not permitted to purchase or give vapes, e-cigarettes, or other associated products to children or young people.
Other nicotine products e.g. gum, lozenges, patches etc.
It is an offense for shops to sell nicotine products to under 18s or for adults to buy them for children or to provide them to Children and young people.
However, if a young person or child wishes to use nicotine products to give up smoking they should be referred to the GP or LAC nurse.
Staff are to provide positive role modelling and as such if they are expected to keep any smoking or vaping materials safely away and out of sight from children and young people.
Last Updated: July 9, 2024
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