Safeguarding The Wellbeing Of Children And Young People Essay

It emphasises the important principles to be followed when working with children and young people: settings must provide a safe and secure environment, if any children are identified as suffering from abuse or likely to suffer the appropriate action must be taken.

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-

1.2 Describe the importance of supporting the rights of all children and young people to participation and

There are many policies and procedures within the UK that outline the current legislation and guidelines to help with safeguarding children and young people.

Children and young people should feel happy, safe, respected and included in the school or early years setting environment and all staff should be proactive in promoting positive behavior in the classroom, playground and the wider community. Policies and practice which make sure the safety and wellbeing of children should already be in place and it is this legislation develop through many years and experiences, and mistakes, that underpin the working practices that are used today.

The children act 1989- the children act is a legislation that ensures the welfare of children. This would promote anti-discriminatory practice by protecting children and treating them all equally. This could be by stopping abuse and giving children a safe and secure

The children act 1989 has influenced some settings by bringing together several sets of guidance and provided the foundation for many of the standards practitioners sustain and maintain when working with children. The act requires that settings work together in the best interests of the child and form partnerships with parents or carers. It requires settings to have appropriate adult to child ratios and policies and procedures on child protection. This act has had an influence in all areas of practice from planning a curriculum and record keeping. The every child matters framework has

This Children and Young Persons Act (2008) increases quality of care for children and young people up to the age of 18years old, ensuring every child’s voice is heard.

Must be able to identify and record possible signs of abuse or neglect as soon as possible

This approach ensures that the EYFS reaches its aim it is every child’s right to grow up safe; healthy; enjoying and achieving; making a positive contribution; and with economic well-being.

The main current legislation guidelines policies and procedures within own UK home nation for safeguarding children and young people.

The UK Government has defined the term ‘safeguarding children’ as: ‘The process of protecting children from abuse or neglect, preventing impairment of their health and development, and ensuring they are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care that enables children to have optimum life chances and enter adulthood successfully.’

Legislation, guidelines, policies and procedures affecting the safeguarding of children and young people would be:-

The law delivers the structure for social work with children and families, through a basis of duties and powers that reinforce and deliver protective actions when necessary (Wilson et al, 2011). The Children Act 1989 was to provide every child with the right to be safeguarded from mistreatment and the right for investigations to take place to protect their well-being. Its vital principle was that, for children, it is more beneficial for them to be looked after within their own family if possible (Parliament, 1989). The act did not come into force in England and Wales until 1991 although it was given royal accent in 1989. It is comprehensive and incorporates virtually all the law relating to children. The Act introduced new principles, powers and duties on local authorities. Following the statutory guidance in Working Together under the Children Act 1989 (Department of Health, Home Office and Department for Education and Skills, 1999) the Child Protection Register was designed. It was a documentation of all children in each area for whom there were unresolved child protection matters. The aim of the child protection register was to enable agencies and professionals to be aware of those children who are judged to be at continuing risk of Significant Harm (Department of Health, Home Office and Department for Education and Skills, 1999). During 2004 the Children Act 1989 was overhauled and amended by