Standard 1
Standard 1: understand the principles and values essential for working with children and young people
a. Think of a particular situation when you were able to treat children, young people, their families and their carers with respect.
b. Now think of another situation when you were able to treat children, young people, their families and their carers as equals
We had an occasion when a YP was asking me to take her to her grandparents’ house to collect some items that she had left there a couple of days previously. I’d heard that morning that this YP had been rude and abusive to her nan when she’d brought her home from that visit because the nan had said that she would not be able to come and collect her again the next day.
The YP thought that her nan was just being lazy and couldn’t be bothered. What we, the staff, knew , and the YP didn’t, was that her nan had terminal cancer and was weak and tired with that and her treatment.
So, when the YP requested to be taken to collect her items I refused to just take her, pick up the stuff and leave. I insisted that we arrange to go, stay for a drink and a chat because I thought it would be rude, disrespectful and hurtful to the grandparents to not stay. I also explained that I felt that she needed to mend ‘bridges’. She relied on the relationship quite a lot. After some discussion, the YP agreed that we’d go and chat.
I then phoned the grandparents to arrange it and to discuss with them about telling the YP about nans illness. I explained that I felt that her not knowing was leading to this misunderstanding and to the YP drawing her own conclusions regarding the nans’ changes in behaviour.
I also explained that I wasn’t trying to pressure them, just why I and some colleagues thought it would be a good idea and why we thought that the YP would deal better with knowing. I also offered any support they might want from myself or other staff team members should they choose to tell the YP. Should they choose not to, we would
a. Think of a particular situation when you were able to treat children, young people, their families and their carers with respect.
b. Now think of another situation when you were able to treat children, young people, their families and their carers as equals
We had an occasion when a YP was asking me to take her to her grandparents’ house to collect some items that she had left there a couple of days previously. I’d heard that morning that this YP had been rude and abusive to her nan when she’d brought her home from that visit because the nan had said that she would not be able to come and collect her again the next day.
The YP thought that her nan was just being lazy and couldn’t be bothered. What we, the staff, knew , and the YP didn’t, was that her nan had terminal cancer and was weak and tired with that and her treatment.
So, when the YP requested to be taken to collect her items I refused to just take her, pick up the stuff and leave. I insisted that we arrange to go, stay for a drink and a chat because I thought it would be rude, disrespectful and hurtful to the grandparents to not stay. I also explained that I felt that she needed to mend ‘bridges’. She relied on the relationship quite a lot. After some discussion, the YP agreed that we’d go and chat.
I then phoned the grandparents to arrange it and to discuss with them about telling the YP about nans illness. I explained that I felt that her not knowing was leading to this misunderstanding and to the YP drawing her own conclusions regarding the nans’ changes in behaviour.
I also explained that I wasn’t trying to pressure them, just why I and some colleagues thought it would be a good idea and why we thought that the YP would deal better with knowing. I also offered any support they might want from myself or other staff team members should they choose to tell the YP. Should they choose not to, we would