Birmingham Safeguarding Children Partnership

The Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Trust and Birmingham Safeguarding Children Partnership launched the ‘Who’s in Charge’ campaign in November 2020 in response to increasing concerns that growing numbers of babies and children are at risk of serious harm because of the way some parents and carers consume alcohol, both at home and at outdoor gatherings.

The campaign uses a series of short hard-hitting films, urging parents, and those with responsibility for children, to be aware of the risks and potentially dangerous consequences of drinking alcohol while caring for children and to always know ‘Who’s in Charge?’. The videos depict some of the most worrying trends identified locally and nationally, particularly baby deaths connected with sleeping on a sofa or co-sleeping in a bed with an adult who is under the influence of alcohol.

In September 2021 the ‘‘Who’s in Charge?’ campaign received national recognition, winning the NHS Safeguarding Award 2021 at the NHS Patient Safety awards ceremony in Manchester.