Best Practice

Young people help to improve the language of care

5 mins read Social Care Participation
Glossary aims to change the language of the care system, urging professionals to swap jargon for words that make young people feel listened to and valued.
Waltham Forest’s Children in Care council wanted positive words used in care plans, with a focus on young people’s strengths. Picture: SeventyFour/Adobe Stock
Waltham Forest’s Children in Care council wanted positive words used in care plans, with a focus on young people’s strengths. Picture: SeventyFour/Adobe Stock

PROJECT

Language That Cares at Waltham Forest

PURPOSE

To build better relationships with children and young people by using language that helps them feel listened to, cared for and valued

FUNDING

Funded from Waltham Forest children's services’ budget

BACKGROUND

In 2018, the London Borough of Waltham Forest was one of 15 local authorities that worked with fostering charity Tact on a project examining how social care professionals communicate with children and young people. Children and young people gave their views on the language used with them and about them and how it made them feel. They said some words and phrases commonly used by social workers were confusing, demeaning or too complicated, making them feel disempowered, stigmatised and victimised.

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