Integrated Approaches to Working With Children and Young People - Essay Example

?Integrated Approaches to Working with Children and Young People Table of Contents Table of Contents 2 Introduction 3 Contribution of Different professionals or Individuals 4 Individuals and Professionals Providing Integrated Services to Jordan 8 Factors Improving Integrated Working 9 Conclusion 11 References 12 Introduction Children and youths are demonstrated to be at risk of neglects but there are certain incidents that might be more risky and thus hamper the growth of children. Practitioners or professionals who are involved with providing integrated services to children should monitor these risky situations as well as formulate plans to minimise them by a greater extent (Oliver & Pitt, 2011). Integrated working is a process through which the individuals assist children as well as young people to work collectively in a successful manner for maintaining their requirements as well as aiding in their development and growth. The major focus of integrated working is to encourage workforce involved with caring for children as well as young people. Moreover, it is regarded as a process of involving the practitioners as well as the sectors involved with welfare programmes that are designed especially for children as well as young people. Furthermore, there should be an effective communication among these different professionals as well as individuals in order to perform different welfare activities successfully [1] (Crown, 2012). In accordance with the scenario, the child i.e. Jordan will be taken into concern. Jordan is suffering from cerebral palsy. She is in year five at a mainstream school as well as requires Special Educational Needs (SEN). The discussion will emphasize on contributions provided by various professionals or individuals of Every Child Matters Outcomes and integrated working involved with the family. Moreover, a detailed analysis will also be conducted for determining the integrated services that are provided by the professional or the individuals involved with the family. In addition, the discussion will also emphasize upon the factors that might assist in improving integrated working procedures at large. Contribution of Different professionals or Individuals The government of the UK has formulated effective plans and programmes in order to enhance the lives of young people, children as well as the families of the children. Moreover, these programmes are formulated with the intention of improving the quality of life of every children as well as young people. The Children Act 2004 provides legal support to all these programmes that are broadly initiated. Furthermore, this Act offers significant duties as well as determines the responsibilities for providing better services to children [1] (Crown, 2012). Every Child Matters ‘Every Child Matters’ is fundamentally considered to be the national framework for the programmes which are initiated in order to comply with the requirements of the youths and the children. This framework is initiated with the motive of increasing opportunities as well as decreasing risks that experience by the children or the young people. Moreover, the services which are to be rendered by the professional of these programmes are required to identify the risks that are associated with children as well as young people. The risks which are identified are required to be sorted out in an efficient manner. The integrated working services can be rendered effectively with the assistance of local leaders and collaboration with local communities. Moreover, this framework determines the actions that are required to be undertaken by the local authorities and the support that is to be provided to the local authorities for carrying out these activities effectively (North Yorkshire County Council, 2013). The valuable outcomes of the ‘Every Child Matters’ that are mostly desired by the young people and the children have been portrayed hereunder. Being Healthy The children as well as the young people must possess better mental as well as physical health. Moreover, the young people as well as children are facilitated with healthy lifestyle [3] (Crown, 2003). Staying Safe The children along with the youths are protected from various risks that include negligence as well as harm due to discrimination and injury among others [3] (Crown, 2003). Enjoying and Achieving The youths and the children are required to be provided with every opportunity to grow in a proficient manner. Moreover, they are also provided with the opportunity to be offered with chances to enjoy their life [3] (Crown, 2003). Making a Positive Contribution The children as well as the young people are regarded to be an important part of the society for which they are required to contribute positively towards community advancement. Moreover, measures ought to be undertaken that they are not involved with any kind anti-social activities or pose any sort of offending behaviour towards the society [3] (Crown, 2003). Economic Well-Being The children as well as the young people are required to be avoided from disadvantages in relation to economical factors so that they grow up with full potential [3] (Crown, 2003). These are the most demanded five outcomes which are demanded by children as well as young people in order to grow in a proficient manner with better educational opportunities. The government of the UK has taken considerable initiatives of enhancing the aforementioned outcomes through introducing the programme of Sure Start as well as by increasing the level of school standards. Sure Start Children’s Centres The UK government has formulated this programme with the intention of opening ‘Sure Start Children’s Centres’ in backward communities. These centres will be established with the motive of providing better family support, nursery education as well as healthcare service facilities. Moreover, these centres will also offer valuable advice about employment as well as childcare facilities [3] (Crown, 2003). Full Service Extended Schools The government of the UK has opened schools that will remain open after the regular timing schedule with the motive of providing valuable services to the people of the community. These schools will intend to provide effective childcare as well as health care facilities [3] (Crown, 2003). The Government of the UK has also allocated a fund of ?200 million as ‘Young People’s Fund’ in order to improve the activities of children. Moreover, the government has increased making substantial investments in ‘child and adolescent mental health services’ (CAMHS) for providing support to mentally affected children. Health visitors as well as general practitioners are entitled with the responsibility of ensuring that children are provided with better health facilities. Moreover, pediatricians are involved with CAMHS programme to provide medical care facilities to mentally disturbed children. Children as well as young people who are suffering from asthma are required to be provided with better healthcare facilities. These children are also required to be provided with additional support through asthma nurse for procuring better medical services at times of emergency such as sudden asthma attack. Furthermore, the government has also taken the initiative of providing enhanced ‘speech and language therapy’ for assisting these children with better trained para-professionals as well as specialist staffs which include speech therapists among others. The staffs who are involved in these programmes are required to be more skilful as well as expertise for providing effective support to children as well as young people. There should be a lead professional who will be entitled with the responsibility that children are provided with enhanced service packages in order to meet the requirement of these children. Moreover, professionals are also required to work in collaboration with teams of Children’s Centres as well as schools. These professionals should response rapidly to teacher as well as childcare workers’ concern. The government has undertaken initiatives that one person is required to be responsible at local as well as in national level with the objective of enhancing the lives of children as well as young people. Children in mainstream schools are also required to be provided with SEN programmes for children who have difficulties in learning as well as posses certain disabilities [3] (Crown, 2003). These are the various programmes as well as plans that are formulated by the government. The professionals who are involved with these programmes are required to perform their activities effectively in order to meet the requirement of children as well as young people in an efficient manner. Individuals and Professionals Providing Integrated Services to Jordan There are various individuals as well as professionals who provided integrated services to Jordan that include Special Education Needs Coordinator (SENCO) and pediatrician. SENCO is a professional who is entitled with the responsibility of observing that children bearing disability as well as those provided with SEN are required to be offered with additional support as well as services. Moreover, SENCO is an individual who is entrusted with the job of coordinating all the requisite activities in schools with SEN provisions (HSE, 2005). On the other hand, Pediatricians are viewed as a physician who provides medical care facilities to children suffering from chronically illness. Moreover, pediatrician should also ensure that children will grow up with better mental as well as physical development (The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, n.d.). In accordance with the scenario, it can be stated that a pediatrician checks up as well as assesses the health of Jordan. Teacher of her mainstream school has decided that she requires to be provided with SEN for providing better learning as well as knowledge in school. SENCO identifies her disability as well as decided that she is required to be provided with better healthcare services as well as social care. Moreover, SENCO also decided that Jordan must be facilitated with ‘Individual Education Plan’. In accordance with this plan, Jordan will be provided education in a public school free of cost. Jordan will be provided knowledge according to her expectations. Moreover, according to her learning outcome as well as requirement, this program will be modified in order to provide her with educational facility (QUEEN’S PRINTER FOR ONTARIO, 2013). These are the various activities which are performed by professional or individuals who are involved in the case of Jordan. Factors Improving Integrated Working There are various significant elements that are involved with the integrated working process for better meeting of the requirement of children as well as young people. The elements have been described hereunder. Early Intervention Early intervention signifies that the problems of children are required to be identified at an early stage before such problems persist to create huge problems that may affect the growth of a child [2] (Crown, 2012). Assessment A Common Assessment Framework (CAF) is required to be formulated in order to assist practitioners to recognise problems of children at an early stage in an effective manner. Moreover, this assessment procedure will also aid practitioners in recognising extra requirements of children [2] (Crown, 2012). Recording Valuable information is required to be recorded effectively as well as communicated with every children along with their parents [2] (Crown, 2012). The Team around the Child CAF practitioners should work with family members of children on making important decisions with relation to the problems identified in the children. Moreover, recommendations are made on the basis of determined decisions [2] (Crown, 2012). The Lead Professional The practitioners who are in contact with the child or with the family members of the child are the most important elements for the integrated working process as these practitioners formulates as well as evaluates integrated working plans [2] (Crown, 2012). These are the varied factors which will assist in improving the performances of integrated working procedures. Conclusion Integrated working is a process of involving every individuals as well as professionals who are included in welfare activities for the youths and the children. The children as well as the youths are required to be provided with better assistance as well as additional support in order to improve their life and growth. Risks as well as problems pertaining among children as well as young people are required to be identified at an early stage. Moreover, on identification of risks, measures must be undertaken to eliminate all these risks to children in an efficient manner. The government of the UK has initiated a programme named ‘Every Child Matters’ with the objective of providing additional requirement to children as well as young people in an effective manner. There are certain crucial outcomes that are mostly desired by children for better health as well as growth. Moreover, there are professionals as well as individuals who are entitled with the responsibility of meeting the needs as well as requirements of children as well as young people. Moreover, the government has also initiated that there should be lead practitioners who will be responsible for providing all the requisite packages of service effectively. In accordance with the scenario, Jordan is provided with SEN as well as SENCO decided that she will be offered with educational plan in order to provide enhanced educational facilities. These educational facilities will be provided to Jordan free of cost. All these will facilitate Jordan and her family with better healthcare services. References [2] Crown, 2012. Integrated Working. Department of Education. [Online] Available at: http://www.education.gov.uk/a0068938/integrated-working [Accessed January 13, 2013]. [1] Crown, 2012. The Team around the Child (TAC) and the Lead Professional. Publications. [Online] Available at: https://www.education.gov.uk/publications/eOrderingDownload/lead-professiona_Practitioners-Guide.pdf [Accessed January 13, 2013]. [3] Crown, 2003. Every Child Matters. Documents. [Online] Available at: http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-files/Society/documents/2003/09/08/EveryChildMatters.pdf [Accessed January 13, 2013]. HSE, 2005. Health and Safety Matters for Special Educational Needs: Legal Issues Including Risk Assessment. Publications. [Online] Available at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/edis3.pdf [Accessed January 13, 2013]. North Yorkshire County Council, 2013. Every Child Matters: Change for Children. HM Government. [Online] Available at: http://www.northyorks.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=2660&p=0 [Accessed January 13, 2013]. Oliver, B., & Pitt, B., 2011. Working with Children, Young People and Families: A course book for Foundation Degrees. SAGE. QUEEN’S PRINTER FOR ONTARIO, 2013. The Individual Education Plan Process. General. [Online] Available at: http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/general/elemsec/speced/individu.html [Accessed January 13, 2013]. The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, No Date. What is a pediatrician?. Healthcare Services. [Online] Available at: http://medicalcenter.osu.edu/patientcare/healthcare_services/pediatrics/the_pediatrician/Pages/index.aspx [Accessed January 13, 2013]. Read More