Support positive outcomes for children and young people

1.1. Describe the social, economic and cultural factors that will impact on the lives of children and young people.

At Whorlton Hall part of my role is to be aware of issues that have a positive or negative influence on children’s lives. Poverty – A family living on a low income might not be able to provide for their children as hoped. Accommodation may be poor which can have an effect on the mental and physical health of children and their parents.Offending or anti social behaviour – Such as behaviour by parents of a child may result in a child being taken into care.Disability – The disability of a parent or child could affect educational provision, cause poverty or mean that the child is a carer. Support or respite care may be needed for the child or young person.Bereavement and loss – Losing a family member or friend can affect the emotional and physical health of children and their parents. Adults losing a child or partner may find caring for any remaining children difficult.Ethnic beliefs and customs – This could affect the dietary needs of children, clothing, customs or other aspects of their lives.

1.2. Explain the importance and impact of poverty on outcomes and life chances for children and young people.

This can result from low income, unemployment, parental separation, illness or disability, addictions, or criminal activities. Children may suffer malnutrition or a poor diet as a result of their parents being unable to afford quality food. This could result in lack of concentration or poor performance at school. They could also suffer other health related issues. They may be the subject of bullying as a result of their clothing or because they do not have the latest ‘must have’ accessories. They will probably miss out on further education due to the costs involved, or as a result of the need to find employment to help support the family.

1.3. Explain the role of children and young people’s personal choices and experiences on their outcomes and life chances.

Even from an early age, children’s choices, even simple ones, can have an impact on their life chances and outcomes such as choosing which toys to play with at Nursery or which friends to play with, a child may develop a friendship with another child who is perhaps a bit louder and boisterous and may display unwanted behaviour, this choice of friend may have a negative impact on the child’s behaviour at home or in other settings they move onto. Whilst the child has the right to choose their friends, it is the practitioner responsibility to involve the child in setting expectations of their behaviour and help them to make a positive contribution, which is one of the outcomes of the Every Child Matters framework. Children and young people throughout their lives will make choices such as whether to eat healthy or unhealthy or start smoking or drinking. An early years setting should encourage healthy snacks and encourage parents to supply a healthy balanced lunch. The setting should involve the children in activities and discussions about the importance of healthy living but there will come a point where the children can choose for themselves.

2.1. Identify the positive outcomes for children and young people that practitioners should be striving to achieve.

Staff at Whorlton Hall strive to achieve the 5 out comes of EVER CHILD MATTERS.

Be healthy | • physically healthy • mentally and emotionally healthy • sexually healthy | • healthy lifestyles • choose not to take illegal drugs | Stay safe | • safe from maltreatment, neglect, violence and sexual exploitation • safe from accidental injury and death • safe from bullying and discrimination | • safe from crime and anti-social behaviour in and out of school • have security, stability and are cared for | Enjoy and | • ready for school | • achieve personal and social development, and | achieve | • attend and enjoy school • achieve stretching national educational standards at primary school | enjoy recreation • achieve stretching national educational standards at secondary school | Make a | • engage in decision-making and support the | • develop positive relationships and choose not to | positive | community and environment | bully and discriminate | contribution | • engage in law-abiding and positive behaviour in and out of school | • develop self-confidence and successfully deal with significant life changes and challenges • develop enterprising behaviour | Achieve | engage in further education, employment or training | • access to transport and material goods | economic | on leaving school | • live in households free from low income | well-being | • ready for employment • live in decent homes and sustainable communities |

2.2. Explain the importance of designing services around the needs of children and young people.

recognising that everyone is unique is a first step for seeing the importance. Each child and young person will have a differing set of needs, requirements and barriers that can prevent them accessing ways of achieving success. You’ll need a way to find out what the child’s views, ideas, preferences and what their own goals are, their stage of development – the area early years practitioners can contribute significantly too, and if there are any medical needs, disability, impairments to be taken into account. Working with parents and carers will also enable you to find out about cultural and background information. To help accomplish this..

understand how important an individual is, their circumstances and their background.
be able to listen to what’s said verbally and non verbally
be able and willing to ask questions.

allow the time necessary for information to be given, for it to be understood and absorbed.
work with children and young people to share ideas and experiences organise and plan with care.
Services and professional teams are varied, they’ll include organisations such as ..Health servicesEducation servicesSocial servicesYouth services

2.3. Explain the importance of active participation of children and young people in decisions affecting their lives.

Participation is the process by which children and young people influence decision making which brings about change in them, others, their services and their communities. There are many opportunities for children and young people to take an active part in shaping where they live, the services they use and the running of local and national organisations. They have a right to be involved in the decisions that affect them. Their participation is essential to improve services and respond to their needs.Here at Whorlton Hall all our young people are supported to participate in the decision making process, they are listened to and things change in response to their participation.We want the young people to feel that they can influence the services they receive. We have young people meeting every Monday to receive input on how the young people would like the home run, Create food menus and the every day running of the home.