Child custody

Hi all

I have a 6 month old baby with my partner. We have recently have been having a lot of problems, my partner smokes a lot of weed and we don't live together so he is often away at his own house smoking and I'm left to mind our baby. He is there some of the time to help but when the mood strikes he can go off for days smoking, he will always make promises to be around and then break them. It's getting really difficult to try manage the situation as I'm single handed trying to take care of a baby on my own and I have no family nearby and with someone who is completely unreliable.

I think I'm reaching the end of being understanding and want to look at separation but not sure how it will work. Has anyone been in a similar situation and do they know legally where I stand? I don't like the idea of him being on his own minding our baby as he smokes and that can alter his moods and patience, do I have rights to seek drug testing or supervised visits?

I'd rather not go down this path and keep putting off contacting a solicitor but I'm struggling ar this stage with the constant lies and let downs and I don't want our baby to have to feel this in years to come.