Explain the importance of a child centred approach
2. Explain the importance of a child or young person centred approach (2.2)
Every assessment should be child centred and all decisions should be made in the child’s best interests. The ensures that each assessment responds to the child’s individual needs and takes note of any impacts external situations or people may have on them (such as parents’ behaviour). This is especially important, as every child is different. It is important to draw together information from the child, the family and relevant professionals so that all aspects of the child’s situation are taken into account. The child centred approach uses all information to identify difficulties, risk factors, strengths and protective factors.
Once the assessment has taken place, plans can be put into action to help the child. Support is given to the child to enable them to be healthy, stay safe, enjoy and achieve, make a positive contribution and achieve economic well being (the five Every Child Matters outcomes). Every child will achieve these five outcomes a different way. Even minor improvements by parents/carers and professionals can dramatically help the child. The child centred approach focuses on what these improvements may be.
Each professional or agency working with the child will have a different area of expertise and ways in which they can help the child. The child therefore needs coordinated help from health services, education, social care, the voluntary sector and often the justice system to ensure that all of the child’s needs are met. To effectively safeguard and protect the child there must be good communication between all of the services available. By piecing together all information from every service, a bigger picture of the child’s situation is created and the child is better supported. Every organisation that the child is involved with, from school to doctors to swimming pools to “Brownies” must have policies in place for safeguarding children to ensure their safety.
Every assessment should be child centred and all decisions should be made in the child’s best interests. The ensures that each assessment responds to the child’s individual needs and takes note of any impacts external situations or people may have on them (such as parents’ behaviour). This is especially important, as every child is different. It is important to draw together information from the child, the family and relevant professionals so that all aspects of the child’s situation are taken into account. The child centred approach uses all information to identify difficulties, risk factors, strengths and protective factors.
Once the assessment has taken place, plans can be put into action to help the child. Support is given to the child to enable them to be healthy, stay safe, enjoy and achieve, make a positive contribution and achieve economic well being (the five Every Child Matters outcomes). Every child will achieve these five outcomes a different way. Even minor improvements by parents/carers and professionals can dramatically help the child. The child centred approach focuses on what these improvements may be.
Each professional or agency working with the child will have a different area of expertise and ways in which they can help the child. The child therefore needs coordinated help from health services, education, social care, the voluntary sector and often the justice system to ensure that all of the child’s needs are met. To effectively safeguard and protect the child there must be good communication between all of the services available. By piecing together all information from every service, a bigger picture of the child’s situation is created and the child is better supported. Every organisation that the child is involved with, from school to doctors to swimming pools to “Brownies” must have policies in place for safeguarding children to ensure their safety.