Identify the current legislation, guidelines, policies and procedures for safeguarding the welfare of children and young people.
These are as follows:
• Children’s act 1098/2004
• Education act 2002
• E-safety 2008
• Safeguarding
• Human rights act.
And many more.
The following is an outline of current legislation, guidelines, policies and procedures within the UK Home Nation for Safeguarding Children.
The United Nations Convention on the rights of a child 1989 was approved by the UK on the 16th December 1991, this includes:
• Children’s rights to protection from abuse.
• The rights to express their views and to be listened too.
• The right to care
• Services for disabled children
• Services for children living away from
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The act is important because it stresses the importance of putting the child first.
The acts states:
• What is best for the child must always be first consideration
• Whenever possible children should be brought up in their own families
• Unless the child is at risk of harm, a child should not be taken from their family without family’s agreement
• Local authorities must help families with children in need
• Local authorities must work with parents and children
• Courts must put children first when making decisions
• Children being looked after by the local authorities have rights, as do their parents.
Children’s act 2004
Lord lemmings report on the death of Victoria Climbie brought into force the children act 2004 which requires all local authorities across England and Wales to set up a local safeguarding children board. This states that each area should promote and safeguard the welfare of children and young people. LSCB replaced the Area Child Protection Committees and stated all agencies should work together to protect children. An assessment is carried out annually to make sure all agencies are working to promote safeguarding and welfare of children. EVERY CHILD MATTERS.
All adults wanting to work with children whether it is paid or voluntary must be checked, commonly known has having a criminal record check which is only done by criminals record bureau.
The
Any individual who comes into contact with children in their daily line of work “has a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children”.
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.
Children Act 1989 – Determines the duty of early year’s practitioners to identify and meet the separate and distinctive needs of children and to keep them safe. It initiated the belief that the child ought to be at the centre of planning and that a child’s well-being and safety are vital when judgements are made concerning them. This act also recognises the accountabilities of parents in keeping their offspring safe. In this act there are two particular segments that relate to the duty of local authority with concern to child protection, these are-
But children are a special case they cannot always stand up for themselves. They therefore need a special set of rights which take in to consideration their vulnerability and which ensures the adults that surround them take responsibly for their welfare, protection and development.
The current legislation, guidelines and policies and procedures state that children have the rights to protection from abuse also they have the right to express their view and to be listened to as well as the right to care and services for disabled children or children living away, although different British governments have said that it regards its self-bound by the convention and refers to it in child protection guidance. It has not become part of the uk law but there is no single piece of legislation
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.
It includes the right to protection from abuse, the right to express their views and have them listened to and the right to care and services for disabled children or children living away from home. Although the Government has said it regards itself bound by the Convention and refers to it in child protection guidance, it has not become part of UK-wide law.
If any professional becomes concerned that a child might be at risk of abuse, be it physical, sexual, emotional or neglect, it is their legal duty to pass on such concerns to the appropriate professionals who can assess if and what action should be taken. In cases where it will not put the child at greater risk or danger, the parents / carers of the child will be informed that such action has been taken.
The United Nations Convention on the rights of a child (1989) is a treaty that sets out the rights and freedoms of all children in a set of 54 articles.
1.3 Analyse how national and local guidelines, policies and procedures for safeguarding affect day-to-day work with children and young people
National and local guidelines, policies, and procedures determine the nature of relationship and interaction with children and young people. The policies decide on the rights and privileges of children and young people in the society thus outlining how this group should relate to the entire community. National and local guidelines, policies, and procedures for safeguarding determine practice, planning, and organization of all activities in relation to children and young people. The policies ensure that the procedures for protection of children and young people are clear to all in the daily interactions. The policies enlighten the entire society on how to spot child abuse, violence, and exploitation. The policies also have the essence of creating positive and safe environment for the development of children and young people. Policies also
The main current legislation guidelines policies and procedures within own UK home nation for safeguarding children and young people.
To be able to safeguard children effectively we need to be aware of the following policies:
Legislation, guidelines, policies and procedures affecting the safeguarding of children and young people would be:-
1. Outline current legislation, guidelines, policies and procedures within own UK Home Nation affecting the safeguarding of children and young people.