The Importance Of Working With Parents And Carers

Parents and carers place huge trust in professionals when leaving children and young people in their care. Legally practitioners have a duty to protect children and to care for them in the absence of their parents/carers. When pupils arrive on the school premises, teaching staff assume responsibility in taking care of all the needs of the children from the parents. Teachers are acting “in loco parentis” and it is their duty to ensure children’s safety and well-being. This can be seen within all contexts, from health and safety issues to those around safeguarding, Internet safety and safety on school trips.
As adults in positions of responsibility, professionals working with children or young people are responsible for their care and wellbeing and must be aware of the importance of protecting children and young people from harm. Practitioners need to ensure that the children under their care are safe both inside and outside of the setting. Not only does it make a child or young person feel safe in a learning environment but it also gives the child the security to develop and achieve from an early age.
Children are extremely vulnerable and can be exposed to all different kinds of harm on a daily basis. Due to this practitioners have to do their utmost to protect them from any risks while the child is in
their care in the setting. Potential risks to children in the setting include:
• Physical harm, either from accidents and falls during play.
• Bullying and physical abuse by peers.

If a member of staff notices any suspicious injuries on a child, they have to make the necessary steps to investigate the case and prevent it from happening again.
Stress at school and home, emotional abuse or neglect in the family, or peers picking on a certain child can all be causes of emotional problems and behavioural issues. Safeguarding must also cover issues of mental harm and practitioners must be alert to the signs of any emotional problems and behavioural issues. Any signs of possible sexual abuse need to be recognised quickly by practitioners, and whether it has been committed by family members, school peers or teachers, immediate action is
crucial.
For children to be effectively protected, it is essential that everyone accepts the responsibility of their role and to also be protected in that role. E.g. when escorting a child to the toilet or a child needs to be undressed due to any accident, it is vital that another member of staff or child is present as to not allow any allegations of misconduct. Physical contact between child and adult is important for building caring and trustworthy relationships but only when handled in an acceptable and responsible manner. There may be times, especially with younger children, occasions where a distressed or upset child needs comfort and encouragement which may include physical comforting, in these cases employees should use their discretion and common sense in order for allegations not to follow.