Supporting Children's Wellbeing: A Case Study

The following essay explores a variety of current policies and legislations supporting children and young people’s wellbeing, in an integrated service. The integrated working service was known as the ‘joined up working’. The initial idea was to support children and their family’s requirements such as, health and education. Each need is equally important; the aim was to reform the original services, ensuring the services were more effective (Anning 2010). During labour government, government papers were published to promote integrated services. As an example the Green Paper, Every Child Matters 2003, was formed to secure the wellbeing of all children from birth to nineteen years of age. The Every Child Matters Act initially supports children
The objective was to improve children’s health and safety. The motive was due to the Victoria Climbié inquiry (Hughes 2010). As described previously Victoria Climbié was a victim of child abuse, which resulted to her death in 2000 at the age of eight. Victoria’s case give rise to a statutory inquiry instructed by the state of health (Laming 2003). Initially Victoria was departed to London to live with her aunt, Marie Therese Kouao for educational benefits. During the period of living with her aunt, Victoria experienced physical abuse such as, burns and scalding. Victoria experienced the abuse whilst living at Carl Manning’s flat, her aunt’s partner. There were three contact visits between the health and social care professionals regarding Victoria’s abuse. From 1999 until eight months later, Victoria visited two hospitals due to scabs and cuts which were visible on her face and scold marks. However Victoria’s aunt created excuses for the marks, which never brought any areas for concern from the health care professionals (Corby 2005). After the hospital visit there was no contact made up to Victoria’s death. Furthermore, the Victoria Climbié case chaired by Lord Laming, came to the conclusion of poor communication and lack of attention concluded to catastrophic ends (Corby
Integrated working enhances the protection of children, working with a variety of professionals. For example, social workers, teachers, police and youth workers (Laming 2009). The initial idea of integrated working is to help safeguard children ensuring initial assessments are made. In addition the Lord Laming report refers to how group meetings, reviews and decisions ensure the professionals work as a team to support the child (Laming 2009). In conclusion the Lord Laming report created several recommendations, for example replacing child protection comities with safeguarding boards. The Lord Laming report formed the Every Child Matters framework, alongside policies within the Green Papers, which protect children. The Every Child Matters framework aims to create an efficient economy, ensuring children ae involved in less crime alongside good health (GOV 2003). The Every Child Matters framework also aims to improve information sharing between different agencies, encouraging multi- agency working. However it must be made clear there are more than one lead professionals for each case. Child protection requires professionals to follow local safeguarding boards and the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS) (GOV