The Children and Young Persons Act 2008 Essay

1.1 Outline current legislation, guidelines, policies and procedure within own UK Home Nation affecting the safeguarding of children and young people.

When looking at children and young people’s development it is important to recognise and respond to concerns to ensure that the child or young person receives the help and assistance needed.

Children Act 2006 – Is an Act that defines the new duties imposed on the Local Authorities in respect to improving the Every Child Matters outcomes for pre-school children. The Act also defines new rules in relation to childcare for working parents as well as parental information services. It is aimed at improving the well-being of young children. It emphasises the importance of safeguarding children and young people within an educational setting. If a child discloses neglect or abuse; an establishment should have instructions to help the child. This could be referral to an outside organisation or internally.

A corporate parent is where a local authority has taken full parental responsibility of a child or young person, this could be for a number of reasons and a full care order will have been obtained from the courts. (Section 31)

The integral part of this act is to maintain the child is at the forefront of decisions; the best option in relation to the child’s welfare will be taken into account when deciding the best course of action for the child/young person’s upbringing – creating a partnership between parents and multi-agencies.

The children act 1989 has influenced some settings by bringing together several sets of guidance and provided the foundation for many of the standards practitioners sustain and maintain when working with children. The act requires that settings work together in the best interests of the child and form partnerships with parents or carers. It requires settings to have appropriate adult to child ratios and policies and procedures on child protection. This act has had an influence in all areas of practice from planning a curriculum and record keeping. The every child matters framework has

The purpose of assessment and planning with children and young people in residential childcare is to identify their needs and abilities and then how staff can work with that child or young person and then also develop any of their needs. Planning takes into account the real needs of an individual young person, their age, likes and dislikes, goals, levels of ability etc. This is done to ensure that individual goals and targets are appropriate and fair. Young people will be most interested in activities and experiences that are designed to be relevant to them; therefore, they are able to learn more effectively.

It is important to ensure children and young people are protected from harm within the setting, as the parents are leaving their children in your care with the expectation that they can trust you and your colleagues to keep their children from harm. It is difficult for parents to leave their children in an education or care setting and then go to work; they need to be confident that their children will be in safe supportive hands with people that will help them develop.

M1- Discuss how policies and procedures help children, young people and their families whilst the child is being looked after.

Outside agencies may be used to aid the young person in the transition process, these may include child/adult social care, the learning disabilities team, CAHMS and organisations like Grapevine.

The main current legislation guidelines policies and procedures within own UK home nation for safeguarding children and young people.

■ Individual Planning for Children and Young People Living in Out-of-Home Placements: Policy and Procedures (May 2007);

P1 – Outline why children and young people may need to be looked after away from their family. Outline in your information sheet the reasons Why children may need to go into care. Make sure you explain the following reasons: There are so many reasons for why children are in care. Many reasons may be because of family problems at home, family breakdown and also family illness.

The UASCs under 18 years of age will be supported by Local Authorities under the provisions of the Children Act 1989 - in the same way as any other child in need regardless of their immigration status. But the position after the young people reach 18 years of age is more complicated . The Care Leavers (England) Regulations 2010 and guidance ‘Planning Transition for Adulthood for Care Leavers’ requires local authorities to provide certain young people who turn 18 with appropriate leaving care support . There are often concerns regarding the vulnerable young people after their transition from children’s services because they are facing uncertain future. Some of them are waiting a decision in their asylum application or an application to extend

“Parliaments and their members can and should be among the foremost champions of child protection. They can legislate, oversee government activity, allocate financial resources and, as leaders within their nations and communities, raise awareness of issues and provide advocacy.”