Coronavirus: Five key resources for professionals
Fiona Simpson
Friday, March 20, 2020
Children’s charities, organisations and workers' unions have issued advice to professionals working to support children amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Key topics include advice for social workers, early years, and education professionals classed as key workers in combating the crisis.
Protecting young people’s mental health amid school closures and social distancing measures is also vital amid the outbreak.
Here are five useful resources for professionals, young people and parents:
Social Care
The British Association of Social Workers (BASW) is providing comprehensive and up-to-date advice for social workers on government policy, working from home and the legal rights of social workers.
Early Years
The Early Years Alliance is advising providers, staff and parents on issues including finance and business concerns, infection control, communicating with families, self-isolation and updates on government announcements.
Special Educational Needs and Disabilities
Talking Mats, an organisation that supports people with communication difficulties, has provided user-friendly versions of World Health Organisation advice for social distancing aimed at children, young people and those with special educational needs and disabilities.
Youth Work
The National Youth Agency, The Mix and UK Youth have joined forces to provide an advice guide for youth work groups on closures, support for vulnerable young people and staff.
Looked-after children and care leavers
Charity Become has created an advice guide for care-experienced people including FAQs about who to turn to if young people are feeling unwell, advice on benefits and education support and guidance on changes to care practice during the pandemic. Chief executive Katharine Sacks-Jones has also written a blog on tackling key challenges.
Mental health
YoungMinds has published advice for young people and parents on the impact of coronavirus on mental health and tips for self-care and how to get support. Topics covered include looking after your mental health while self-isolating; what to do if you are anxious about coronavirus and talking to your child about coronavirus.
