Ask the Experts: Review youth work safeguarding

In light of the recent revelations about the abuse of young men in football, our youth service is reviewing practice. I'm concerned this may alarm young people and parents. Is it necessary?

Tracie Trimmer-Platman: Now is an essential time to review policy and practice in youth work generally and particularly, but not exclusively, in sports clubs.

Rather than young people and parents being alarmed by this, I suspect they will be expecting it. They will be seeking reassurance that organisations are transparent, professional and unafraid to confront difficult issues.

All your young people should be encouraged to share concerns and worries and ways to access support and advice must be clear. Parents should be invited and encouraged to ask questions and understand what measures are in place to protect their children. Evidence of policies and procedures should be available and open to scrutiny.

This is a time for learning and review, and any self-respecting youth and community agency should welcome this.

Tracie Trimmer-Platman is senior lecturer in youth and community work at the University of East London

How should we approach requests from children and families for a change of worker?

Colin Green: Given the staffing pressures in many services, there is often little choice of worker - it is a question of who is available and has the right experience. But relationships should be at the heart of our work and we should give such requests consideration, especially from children in care. Young people may prefer a worker of the same gender or want a separate worker from siblings. Families may request someone more familiar with a child's cultural background. After care proceedings or another major event, young people and families may want to make a fresh start.

It is more difficult when a request follows hostility towards or complaints about a worker who appear to be part of resistance to change. In these circumstances, it is important to meet the service user to hear their views first-hand. Ensure the worker is not undermined. Do not let the service user believe their hostility is justified. Where a change is made in such circumstances, the service user must understand the direction of casework will not change.

Colin Green has been a social work practitioner, manager and leader, including director of children's services, in six local authorities

I am working in a multi-agency team and am increasingly frustrated with colleagues from other agencies expecting me to be accountable to them even though they do not line-manage me. How do I deal with this?

Jeanie Lynch: No one would dispute how necessary and effective partnership working can be. However, where different staff are working together to create a joined-up approach, it is essential everyone is aware of and signed up to joint working arrangements. If this is done at the outset of a project, then there are less likely to be these tensions.

What are the information-sharing protocols across your agencies? It would be reasonable to expect to be asked for updates from time to time, especially if your work is impacting on someone else's role - there should be clear processes for enabling this to happen. Raise the issue with your line manager.

Jeanie Lynch has more than 20 years' experience working as a senior manager developing support for vulnerable children and young people

Our nursery's Christmas play is always a big hit. We try to involve all the children but want to make next year's even more inclusive. Any tips?

June O'Sullivan: Sometimes in our rush for the perfect performance, we risk excluding those less able and lacking confidence. Be practical and don't set yourselves up to fail by choosing something really complicated or demanding. Consider all the children from the initial planning phase and visualise each in a role.

Think about what the children can do and incorporate this into the script. Use music and visual technology to help the play along. Choose songs the children enjoy singing and teach them the Makaton signs for some of the songs. Involve parents by sending home song sheets and asking for help with scenery and costumes.

Start early, but not as early as the shops. If the Christmas play becomes a chore, it defeats the purpose. Don't worry about perfection. The most important thing is you all have fun.

June O'Sullivan is chief executive of the childcare charity and social enterprise, the London Early Years Foundation

Email questions, marked "Experts", to cypnow@markallengroup.com