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The text below is taken from the Common Core of Skills and Knowledge for the children's workforce. You can also download a PDF version of the document.
People who work with children and young people have responsibilities to safeguard and promote their welfare. This is an important responsibility and requires careful attention. It means being able to recognise when a child or young person is not achieving their developmental potential, or when their health is impaired; and being able to identify sources of help for them and their families.
It is important to identify concerns as early as possible so that children, young people, their families and carers can get the help they need. As well as ensuring that children and young people are free from harm, it is equally important to ensure their well-being and quality of life.
Skills
Relate, recognise and take considered action
- Establish respectful, trusting relationships with children, young people and those caring for them.
- Understand what is meant by safeguarding and the different ways in which children and young people can be harmed (this includes by other children and young people and through the internet).
- Make considered judgements about how to act to safeguard and promote a child or young person's welfare, where appropriate consulting the child, young person, parent or carer.
- Give the child or young person the opportunity to participate in decisions that affect them, as appropriate to their age and ability, and taking their wishes and feelings into account.
- Understand the key role that parents and carers play in safeguarding and promoting children and young people's welfare and involve them accordingly. Also recognise the factors that can affect parenting and increase the risk of abuse, for example domestic violence.
- Understand that signs of abuse can be subtle and be expressed in play, artwork and in the way children and young people approach relationships with other children and adults.
- Make considered judgements about how to act to safeguard and promote a child or young person's welfare.
- Give the child or young person the opportunity to participate in decisions affecting them, as appropriate to their age and ability.
Communication, recording and reporting
- Use appropriate ICT and language skills to observe, record and report; making a distinction between observations, facts, information gained from others and opinions.
- Undertake formal, or informal, assessments and be alert to concerns about a child or young person's safety or welfare. This includes unexplained changes in behaviour and signs of abuse or neglect.
- Be able to recognise when a child or young person is in danger or at risk of harm, and take action to protect them.
Personal skills
- Have self-awareness and the ability to analyse objectively.
- Have the confidence to actively represent the child or young person and his or her rights.
- Have the confidence to challenge your own and others' practices.
- Understand the different forms and extent of abuse and their impact on childrens' development.
- Develop appropriate professional relationships with children and young people.
Knowledge
Legal and procedural frameworks
- Have awareness and basic knowledge, where appropriate, of the most current legislation.
- Know about Government and local guidance; policies and procedure and how these apply in wider working environments.
- Be aware of the Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) and its remit.
- Be aware of national guidance and local procedures, and of certain roles and responsibilities within these, for safeguarding and promoting children and young people's welfare.
- Know about data protection in this context.
Wider context of services
- Know when and how to discuss concerns with parents and carers.
- Understand the roles of other agencies, local procedures on child protection and variations in the use of terminology.
- Understand the necessity of information sharing within the context of children and young people's well-being and safety.
- Know about the Common Assessment Framework for Children and Young People (CAF) and, where appropriate, how to use it.
- Understand that different confidentiality procedures apply in different contexts.
Self understanding
- Know the boundaries of personal competence and responsibility, when to involve others, and where to get advice and support from.
- Appreciate the impact of witnessing upsetting situations and know how to get support.
Associated documents
Common Core of Skills and Knowledge for the Children's Workforce
Download the contents of this page:
as a Word Document
Last updated on 10/04/2009
