Working with Children and Young People A Quick Guide for ... · HSE Policy on Engaging Children in...

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Working with Children and Young People: A Quick Guide for Frontline Staff

Transcript of Working with Children and Young People A Quick Guide for ... · HSE Policy on Engaging Children in...

Page 1: Working with Children and Young People A Quick Guide for ... · HSE Policy on Engaging Children in Service Planning, Design, Developement, Delivery and Evaluation 2009. Quick Guide

Working with Children and Young People:

A Quick Guide for Frontline Staff

Page 2: Working with Children and Young People A Quick Guide for ... · HSE Policy on Engaging Children in Service Planning, Design, Developement, Delivery and Evaluation 2009. Quick Guide

This Guide aims to raise awareness of the responsibilities of allfrontline staff in relation to their work with children and young people.Outlined below are examples of how you can ensure your practice isin keeping with relevant policies, procedures, protocols andguidelines.

More details are available from www.hse.ie/go/workingwithchildren

l UN Convention on the rights of the child 1989l The National Childrenʼs Strategy 2000 - 2010l Agenda for Childrenʼs Services 2008l National Strategy for Service User Involvement in the Irish Health Service 2008-2013l HSE Policy on Engaging Children in Service Planning, Design, Developement, Delivery

and Evaluation 2009

Quick Guide to User Involvement for Frontline Staff Working with Children and Young People PAGE 1

“ The realization of the provisions of the Conventionrequires respect for the child’s right to express hisor her views and to participate in promoting thehealthy development and well-being of children. Thisapplies to individual health-care decisions, as well asto children’s involvement in the development ofhealth policy and services. ”(2009 UN Convention on the Rights of the Child General Comment 12: 98. CRC/C/GC12)

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Why Involve Children andYoung People?

When?

How?

What can

you

do?

PAGE 2 Quick Guide to User Involvement for Frontline Staff Working with Children and Young People

l It is children and young people’sright and it is national andorganisational policy.

l Children and young people whounderstand the service you aregiving them are likely to have amore positive outcome thanthose who don’t.

l It leads to better service forchildren, young people and theirfamilies and to more fulfilled staff.

l Let them know that they can asktheir parent or anotherresponsible adult to askquestions or make comments ontheir behalf.

l Be mindful of the needs, rightsand responsibilities ofparents/guardians who influenceand are impacted by yourinteraction with the child oryoung person.

For information on consent,confidentiality and specificmethodologies:

www.hse.ie/go/workingwithchildren

You Can Be Clearl Introduce yourself and explain

your role.

l Check that they know why theyare meeting you and who hasgiven consent for the contact.Clarify what is confidential andwhat information may be sharedand with whom.

l Never promise to keep a secretwhich relates to a child’s safetyor welfare.

l Let them know what records youkeep, who has access to theirrecords and how they can seetheir records (ideally offer toshow them their file/chart).

l Children and young people’sparticipation is an ongoingprocess from first to finalcontact. Additionally you shouldinvolve them when:l planning times for their

appointmentsl reviewing your service or

planning a servicedevelopment

l checking the child/youth-friendliness of your buildingetc.

l Question your own beliefs aboutchildren and young people.

l In all communication use clearand simple (not patronising butjargon free) language.

l Welcome their views andreassure them that being criticalof a service will not mean thatthey will be refused a service.

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Quick Guide to User Involvement for Frontline Staff Working with Children and Young People PAGE 3

l Be clear about the limits of yourrelationship. It is important tobuild up trust but, do notofferanything that cannot bedelivered or maintained.Remember, the child/youngperson may have mixedexperiences of relationshipsdeveloped with service providersand other adults.

You Can Be Consistentl Whenever possible meet a child

or young person in the sameroom and involve the same staff.

l Always remind the child/youngperson what happened the lasttime you met, check how theyhave been and let them know thepurpose of this meeting/visit andof any tests or procedures.

l When they are leaving, ask themif they have any questions,concerns or suggestions. Useopen ended questions for this.You could ask for their advice forhow you might deal with otherchildren/young people coming toyour service.

You Can Listen, Discuss, Act,Feedbackl Every time a child/young person

makes a suggestion, give itcareful consideration.

l Explore the feasibility ofsuggestions together andconsider whether there arealternative, creative and feasibleways of addressing the intentionbehind the suggestion.

l If relevant pass on to servicemanagers and ensure that it isgiven due consideration. Put it onyour team agenda.

l Always feed back to thechild/young person what hashappened to their suggestions.

You Can End Welll When your work with a

child/young person is coming toan end, let them know well inadvance.

l Go through with them why youhave worked together and thework you have done.

l If the child or young person ismoving to another service, thinkabout the best way to do this.

l Could you introduce them tosomeone from the newservice?

l Let them know what theyshould do if they are worriedabout needing your serviceagain.

l Make it easy for them tomake contact and ensurereception staff areappropriately prepared forsuch contacts.

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l Take responsibility forensuring that all transitionsare planned for as part of thecare provided by your service.It is important that there areappropriate protocolsdeveloped within and betweenservices to enable the childand young person to movefrom one service to anotherin a supportive way.

l Ask them if there is any otherhelp/information they need fromyou or any other health service. Ifso, refer to the appropriateservice.

You Can Ensure BestPracticel Always demonstrate evidence

that changes have been broughtabout through children and youngpeople’s involvement.

l Alongside ongoing processes ofinvolvement you may wish to setup structures such as, forexample, consumer panels. Onlyput in place participationstructures that can be supportedand maintained. Children andyoung people should only beinvited to participate in suchstructures if they are given aclear mandate and opportunityfor direct impact/change.

l Encourage creativity.

l Children and young people arediverse. Ensure that your

l Avail of training where possible.Useful resources on best practiceand specific guidelines can befound on:

www.hse.ie/go/workingwithchildren

Make children and young peopleaware of appropriate channelsfor feedback and complaints:

Your Service Your Say providespractical information for anyone(including children and youngpeople) wishing to make acomment, compliment orcomplaint about health servicesreceived in Ireland and for thoseworking to involve people in thedesign, development and deliveryof health and social services.