Ask the Experts: Help young carers reach their goals
Jeanie Lynch, June O'Sullivan, Tracie Trimmer-Platman, Peter Lewis
Monday, April 14, 2014
Our panel offers advice on governors' concerns for young carers, social workers' dress, balancing risk with safety and kosher food.
I'm a school governor and have become aware of a number of pupils who have a caring responsibility at home such as looking after parents with substance misuse issues and younger children. My school doesn't seem to think it is our business to get involved - what can I do?
School governors have an important role in ensuring pupils have equal opportunities to achieve and reach their potential.
However, it can be a difficult rope to walk. Some may say it is not the school's role to get involved in family issues while others actively try and break down barriers to children attaining their educational goals.
Seek out some further training for your governing body or ask a local young carers service to come along to a meeting to raise awareness of the needs of this vulnerable and often hidden group of children.
Under new legislation including the Children and Families Act and the Care Bill, young carers will gain formal recognition. This means local authorities will have to have a clear policy and show how the needs of young carers are being met.
Jeanie Lynch
At a core group meeting for a child in my school last week, the social worker was the scruffiest man I have seen in ages. Am I the only one who thinks this is wrong?
"Dress code" is a hot topic. The vast majority of social workers dress appropriately. They are smart, businesslike and good representatives of their local authority. But a few just seem to get it wrong.
Scruffy jeans and an unironed polo shirt may well be more comfortable than a suit and tie. But it misses the point about why we dress the way we do. Not only are we representatives of our employers but we must establish gravitas and authority in child protection meetings and in all our dealings around such cases.
Some talk about establishing a good relationship with parents and say they don't want to appear too "remote" in the way they dress. However, parents subject to a child protection plan need to know there are things they must do. Their regard for what that social worker says is more important than getting on well.
I have sent people home to get changed before now. Speak to this social worker's manager.
Peter Lewis
I want to review our attitude to risk as I think some of the staff at my nursery are too anxious and limit children's play. How should I approach this?
The balance between risk and safety is tricky because we operate in a litigious society and this makes people anxious. However, too little risk is as bad for children as too much safety. We have a duty to teach them to identify, judge and manage risk.
The Early Years Foundation Stage states an effective learner is willing to initiate activities, seek challenges, show a can-do attitude and test out new ideas using trial and error. This is more likely in a setting where staff support children to try new things instead of removing physical challenges. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents has noted an increase in accidents because children are so used to soft surfaces and unable to fall safely.
Looking anxious can be enough to make children fearful of taking a risk, so get staff to observe each other's behaviour to ensure they are not "helicoptering" over activities.
Ask staff to identify risks and work with children to manage them. Risk assessment is designed to mitigate risk not eliminate it.
June O'Sullivan
We've organised a trip for our youth group, which has several Jewish members, but have just found out the food at the venue is not kosher. This has been planned for ages and we don't want to disappoint the young people so my boss has told us not to tell anyone and go ahead. I don't think this is right.
You'd be lying and that's certainly not good youth work practice. If the venue was booked without checking then whoever made that booking should take responsibility. If the venue has changed what's on offer then the management there need to sort it out.
Most vegetarian food is kosher and presumably this will be available. Tell your group what has happened and gauge their reaction - ask the young people to help you find a solution. Use this as an education opportunity and a chance for the rest of the group to learn about kosher food. They could devise meals everyone can eat. If necessary, you could buy appropriate food and take it with you.
Tracie Trimmer-Platman
Email questions, marked "Experts", to cypnow@markallengroup.com
Jeanie Lynch works for Barnardo's and has 25 years' experience of working with vulnerable children and families
June O'Sullivan is chief executive of the childcare charity and social enterprise, the London Early Years Foundation
Tracie Trimmer-Platman is senior lecturer in youth and community work at the University of East London
Peter Lewis is a freelance providing interim local authority children's services leadership, and a former DCS in Haringey.