Caring for children and young people booklet

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BTEC (extended) National Diploma in Health and Social Care

Unit 10 – Caring For Children and Young People – Assignment 1 of 2 – Booklet

P1. A “looked after child” is a term which was chosen by children and young people in care of the local authority because their parents are unable to look after them properly.

There are many reasons why a child might be in need to be looked after. Potential reasons when children can be looked after are:

  • Death of parent(s) – If a child or a young person loses a parent and no other family member is able to look after them then a child needs to be taken into care.
  • Parents’ illness or incapacity – Sometimes parents mental health illness means that parent cannot look after a child properly.
  • Children abuse – If there is a suspicion of abuse then government has a duty to investigate and initiate child protection procedures.
  • Health problems of a child or young person – If a child is suffering from a chronic, complex or long-term condition then local authority can provide a short break respite care to provide relief for parents to give some time to other children in family.
  • Offending behaviour – This may be a behavioural response to poor or inadequate parenting, or a consequence of peer pressure. If behaviour cannot be managed within the family the young person can be an object to a care order.  

There are two main routes into care. These are by compulsory care order and by voluntary accommodation. Around 30% of looked after children are admitted to care on voluntary basis with agreement of parents.

Children can be looked after temporary or permanently. Temporary care can be respite care (break from family) or foster care – can be long term or short term. Permanent care is an adoption.

M1.

Policies and procedures help children, young people and their families whilst the child is being looked after. There are specially designed laws and act to help children and their families.

The Children Act 1989 is still the main key legislation for safeguarding and protecting children and is now strengthened by the Children Act 2004. The Children Act gives children and young people over 40 rights. These include:

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  • The right to special protection measures and assistance
  • The right to access to services such as education and health care
  • The right to develop their personalities, abilities and talents to the fullest potential
  • The right to grow up in an environment of happiness, love and understanding
  • The right to be informed about and participate in achieving their rights in a accessible and active manner

The UNCRC gives the same rights to children as to adults. After the death of Victoria Climbié the government published “Every Child Matters” paper with the intention of strengthening children’s services.  The ...

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