(Source: Accessed: 19/01/2009)
It was updated in 2004 to include Every Child Matters: Change for Children, this was an approach to look for the well-being of children and young people from birth to 19 years. The aim of this is to make sure that every child, whether their background or their circumstances, to have the support they need to:
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Healthy eating- e.g. serving and planning healthy meals and snacks to children for free, encouraging parents to eat healthily so children could imitate, encouraging children to take part in sports etc.
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Staying safe- e.g. making sure that every child goes home with the correct person, keeping information confidential, applying safety gates, applying cameras, carry out risk assessments, teaching children not to talk to strangers, not hitting children etc.
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Enjoying and achieving- e.g. having after school activities, going on educational trips, praising them to feel better giving them a higher self-esteem.
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Making a positive contribution- e.g. getting a police man to come in and explain about positive attitudes, rewarding good behavior etc
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Economic well being- e.g. involving everyone and not judging them, having faculties for those who need it etc
Any organisation that is involved with providing services for children, teams up to provide new ways to work together and share information to help protect children from harm and help them to achieve what they want in life.
UN Convention
The United Nations convention of the right of children (UNCRC) started in 1989 and includes the Human Rights Act 2000. United States and Somalia are the only two in the UN that does not support this convention.
The convention consists of four main principles these are:
That the best interest of the all child is taking into account (article 3)
That all states ensure that the children are safe and healthy (article 6)
That the convention applies to everyone despite race, religion, abilities etc (article 2)
That all children opinions are taken into account (article 12)
This act is also about protecting the rights of children, treating people fairly and taking into account the best interests of the child despite culture, sex, race, age, religion, beliefs etc in order to met their needs and widen their knowledge and opportunities so they will reach their full potential. Children must be valued and not discriminated against, and have the right to express how they feel. Children also have the right to education despite having different needs.
The convention rights for children include (this can also includes benefits):
Rights to survival
Rights of freedom of expression (unless it affects someone rights)
Rights to develop to their full potential
Rights to be protected from abuse, neglect and exploitation
Rights to be with family despite their beliefs etc
Rights to have their personal information protected
Rights to be who they are
Rights to be listen to by adults
Rights to have/ keep their identity
Rights to special protection if refugee
Rights to free play
The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA)
It aims to end discrimination that disabled people face.
It requires settings to
- Not to treat people less favourably (different to others)
- To provide them with resources/materials they need
- Not disadvantage them in any way (not leave them out because they are disabled)
- Recognise them as being different (value their differences)
Working practises have the responsibility to promote all the things listed above. The Act aims schools to bring greater benefits to disabled pupils, staff/ others.
Disabled people now have a wide-ranging set of rights which they can enforce.
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002
This Act states that substances which are hazardous to health have to be stored& used in a safe way. Hazardous Substances include liquids which can make people ill or injure them i.e. chemicals, paints, liquids, bleach…The Act states that all hazardous materials have to be labelled so people know they are dangerous
The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
This Act states that all employers have a legal responsibility under the Act. All the rules have to be adhered by everyone to ensure for health& safety of everyone in the workplace. The Act states that buildings have to be in good condition& designed safely, so no one is at risk. Buildings& other places in the setting should be safe& clean. Equipments should be stored safely& in a secure place away from children, so no child is as risk. The setting should promote children to wash their hands before& after eating, after going toilet and if children for example are holding scissors incorrectly show them the right way to ensure they don’t injure themselves. We should never leave anything hazardous lying around, if we see anything hazardous (spills- risk of slipping, scissors on floor- risk of cutting) then remove it ASAP. The Act also safeguards/protects employees. It states that staff should get regular breaks, have facility for first Aid if needed, are provided with water etc. They should also be a secure system of working, meaning one must make sure gates are locked, widows are secure and anyone entering the premises should sign in/out, parents who help out or students in the setting should be CRB checked to ensure everyone is safe in the setting.
Human Rights (2000) - this came into practice in October 2000 and has had a huge impact on current legislations thought-out the UK. It promotes treating people with dignity, respect and fairness (despite people differences). Any foam of corporal punishment (smacking) must not be seen or take place (even with permission of the parents) as it is seen as degrading and violating a Childs rights. This makes them feel respected, giving them dignity and having a right to express their feelings.
Disability discrimination act 1995 and disability act 2000- this means that it would be against the law if the setting does not appeal to those with disabilities, whether children or parents. The act defines a physical or mental impairment as a disability and creates a long term adverse on a person’s ability to take part in day-to-day activities. This legislation is to promote adjustments e.g. by having wheel chair access or making fonts larger for those with sight problems. Doing this means children with disabilities are not going to get treated less favourite and will be able to participate alongside other children.
D1
Evaluation of the medical model of child abuse
The medical model of child abuse believed that abuse was a disease and that it could be cured. I myself believe that abuse is not a disease, so feel that there is no medication which can cure abuse. I also believe that abuse is not always possible to be prevented and predicted as abuse can take place within the home or family unit. Within the family it is very difficult to find out if abuse is taking place or will happen, this is because the abuser usually tells the child they aren’t allowed to tell anyone what is happening to them and often it will be that because it is the parent who has told them not to tell anybody else (somebody they trust).
The sociological model of child abuse believes that abuse only takes place in families within the lower social classes in society; this is wrong as abuse can occur within families of any background and social class. This model also believes that those who have been abused will later on abuse other people; this is not necessarily the case as some who have been abused may often feel that abusing their own child is wrong as they know how it feels.
The psychological model of child abuse believes that receiving and participating in family therapy can cure/ fix any problems and prevent abuse from taking place or continuing. I do not believe that by simply taking part in family therapy it can cure abuse or prevent it from happening, especially when the abuse has already taken part within the family. I think that if abuse has taken place then it affects the whole family and not just the abuser and victim. The model also believes that the child who is considered as the weakest is the youngest receives the abuse; I feel that this is not the case as anyone can be a victim within the family.
The feminist model of abuse believes that abuse is preformed by men who try to control and dominate other members of the family, simply to get what they want. This model believes that women get abused as they are seen as weak within the eyes of society and that they can be dominated easier than another man can. I feel that this is because typically these are the stereotypical views that men are better than anyone.
After describing and evaluating the models of abuse I feel that there is no specific model which is correct within every single child abuse case, as every child is an individual and cases should be looked at individually and that no stereotypes should be used throughout.
