Being Looked After Children

When working with children and young people it is important to know the aims and responsibilities for your setting.

There are a number of legislations which address the needs of young people leaving care with provisions that are in place to help them through life transitions. The Children and Young Persons Act 2008 focuses on older young people and those who are leaving care. Providing the necessary legislative support to improve the care system in England. Ensuring that stability and continuity in every aspect of a child's care. This act proposed to reform the statutory framework for the care system involving children and young people as much as possible regarding decision making, giving them a voice so that they are heard. Resulting in the improvement of care standards.

There are many legislations and guidelines affecting safeguarding of children and young people. The Children Act 1989, assigns duties to local authorities, courts, parents and other agencies to ensure children are safeguarded, their welfare promoted and for children to be consulted in decisions affecting them. The Children's Act 2004 made amendments to the act of 1989 after the failings regarding Victoria Climbe. It places duty on local authorities to work together and share information introducing local Safeguarding Boards to work collaboratively to safeguard children and young people. This includes the five outcomes of Every Child Matters 2003. The Childcare Act 0f 2006 introduced plans for children aged 0-5 to

A corporate parent is where a local authority has taken full parental responsibility of a child or young person, this could be for a number of reasons and a full care order will have been obtained from the courts. (Section 31)

The Childcare Act 2006 which is about duties on local authorities, regulation and inspection for childcare providers in England and other general provisions, could undoubtedly be an excellent foundation for a good quality service for young children.

In this assignment I am going to explain the roles and responsibilities of two members of the work force that look after children and young people and evaluate the regulation of care provision for looked after children and young people.

P1-There are many different reasons why children and young people may need to be looked after which are unforeseen, unexpected and planned situations. Common reasons could involve family related issues including: family breakdown, bereavement, loss of parent, illness or incapacity of a parent such as: hospitalisation, substance misuse or mental health needs, which means there is no one else to provide care. A Child or young person are suspected or actually being maltreated. Children and young person related: health issues, behavioural problems, disability, learning difficulties or rejection by parent as a result of a new partner or because of the child or young person’s behaviour. The child or

M1- Discuss how policies and procedures help children, young people and their families whilst the child is being looked after.

This Act, which regulates the childcare in England, formalise the important strategic role of local authorities play through a set of duties. These duties require

Firstly, OFSTED (The Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills) regulate and inspect children’s social care agencies and organisations, such as, care services for new born babies to schools and colleges which protects children and young people. Also, residential care homes, youth clubs, etc. would be regulated by OFSTED to review the quality of care they contribute to protect children and young people’s welfare. Following on from the quality, OFSTED look for implementation of legislation which protects and promotes children and young people’s prosperity. OFSTED ensures organisations provide high potential care quality for children and young people, including keeping them safe, healthy and wealthy. They promote this by allowing the child to have the right to enjoy and achieve the best lifestyle there are able to receive. Employees have to contribute to the quality to improve on the child’s wellbeing. This is accomplished by developing the children and

Outcome 1 Understand the legal, policy, rights and theoretical framework for residential care for children and

Working together to safeguard children 2006 sets out how organisations and individuals should work together to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people in accordance with the Children’s Act 1989 and the Children’s Act 2004. It is important that all practitioners within settings and environments looking and caring after children and young people must know their responsibilities and duties in order to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people, following their legislations, policies and procedures.

There has been certain legislation in the United Kingdom along with home policies and procedures that affect the safeguarding of children and young people. Policies and procedures for safeguarding and child protection in England and Wales are the result of the Children Act 1989 and the Children Act 2004 brought more changes that affected the way the child protection system works here in the United Kingdom and so affecting the safeguarding of children and young people. Through the protection policies and procedures for safeguarding children and young people, settings which work with children and young people have an important role in the

There are some young people who for a variety of reasons get caught up in a cycle of offending and breaking the law. Their criminal activity may result in the young person being remanded or detained. Usually when young people and children are remanded or detained it is usually as a result of criminal charges and a short term care order may be made. Children and young people could be taking away from their families with the agreement of parents. There are times when parents realise that they are struggling with their parental responsibilities and that the child would benefit from a period of time away from the family home.

Working together to Safeguard Children (2010) sets out how organisations and individuals should work together to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people in accordance with the Children Act 1989 and the Children Act 2004. Working Together is addressed to practitioners and frontline managers who have particular responsibilities for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and to senior and operational managers in: