Childrens and Families Social Care - Case Study Example

Children’s and Families Social Care The essay explains how the Children Act 1989 protects children and outlines the circumstances in which it is used. The Children Act 1989 was a structure drafted to provide care to children and young people (McLeod 29). This was the first legislation that acknowledged that it was important to recognise children’s needs. Additionally, the act stipulates the right powers, duties and responsibilities of parents with respect to their children. Section 17 of the act states that the local authority has a duty to safeguard and promote the children’s welfare by ensuring their needs are catered for (Hendrick 15). The local authority has the responsibility to facilitate the upbringing of needy children within families by providing a wide range of services to satisfy children’s needs. There are several principles that strengthen the act and are listed in the third part of the act. First, it is the responsibility of the state through local authorities to promote and safeguard the well-being of vulnerable children (McLeod 29). Secondly, it is in the child’s best interest to be raised in its own families if possible. While it is the parent’s responsibility to bring up children in their families when possible however, they may need help from state authorities and other family members to do so. In Kyle’s case, her mother had failed in raising her and her family calling for intervention by more responsible members of her family or the relevant state authorities. The idea of partnership is therefore established between the state and families. To perform these duties within the requirements of the act should be appreciated. Safeguarding has two elements: a duty to avoid impairments and to protect children from ill-treatment. The responsibility to protect children from abuse demands an understanding of the law and government’s supervision (McLeod 29). On the other hand, safeguarding should not be seen as a different activity from facilitating welfare. In fact, the two are two sides of a coin. Facilitating welfare has positive, wider and an action based perspective that is couple with the philosophy of providing opportunities that enable children have the most favourable opportunities in adulthood. Additionally, it ensures that children grow up in a safe environment. Kyle can be defined as a child in need. Under the Children Act 1989 a child in need is one whose susceptibility is such that they are not likely to attain an acceptable level of health, education and development. Establishing which child is in need calls for professional judgment by a work from the social services and staff from other professional discipline that work in collaboration with children in need and families. The criterion for defining in need is stated in section 17 (10) of the act (Allen 15). This definition includes disabled children. The Ecological Approach This social development theory focuses on the environment and nature factors that affect a child’s development. Uri Bronfenbrenner who stated that there are four sections in the social environment that affect a child’s development proposed it. These include the microsystem (the child’s immediate environment), mesosystem (broader environment), macrosystem (values, customs and attitudes in the child’s environments) and exosystem (these includes the broader environment that indirectly impact on a child’s development) (Frost 3). This perspective of the child within their family’s context and the community and culture they are raised up in. The importance of understanding the relationship between a parent and a child is an important aspect of the child welfare practice. According to this approach, there is a strong relationship between economic disadvantage and the chances that a child will succeed or fail in future. The approach also investigates the relationship between friendships among teenagers and pro-social and anti- social behaviour (Frost 3). The impact of the parenting capacity of a supportive wider family is assessed. In conclusion, bringing up children in a low income surrounding does not make it hard for them to be authoritative or affectionate but definitely makes it more difficult. According to this perspective, Kyle is a child who has developed in an unfriendly environment. This is because both her parents had a violent relationship and had a violent past. Kyle’s mother, Maria and stepfather, Jake were separated and she was upset when her mother took him back. Jake was a crack dealer who was violent towards her mother and this created a hostile environment for Kylie to achieve her dreams in future in spite of the fact that she was focused. On the other hand, her mother was a convicted of shoplifting, prostitution and possession of drugs. The living conditions of the family are deplorable since they live in a temporary house after their flat burnt down. Kyle’s future and that of her siblings’ is uncertain as her mother her mother might get a custodial sentence and they may be left with no one to take care of them. The assessment of the ecological takes account of three aspects including the children’s developmental needs, the larger family and environmental factors and the parents’ abilities to respond suitably. According to the ecological approach, Kyle’s parents have failed in all the aspects. It is important to take into account the interaction of the three aspects to get a clear picture of the child’s needs and establish how they relate to each other. The social learning theory by Albert Bandura can also be used to explain Kyle’s situation. The theory states that children learn behaviour by observing other people. The theory is different from other behavioural models since the model that external reinforcement was not the only form of learning new concepts. Intrinsic reinforcements including accomplishment, satisfaction and pride could also motivate learning (Frost 4). Children acquire information and develop new skills by observing individuals in their immediate environment mostly parents. This theory is applicable in Kyle’s case owing to the fact that her motivation was from within. She was responsible and took the initiative to take care of her younger sister Jake. She was motivated in her studies and was highly concerned by her mother’s irresponsible behaviour. Kyle’s environment could have had a negative impact on her; however, she had a positive attitude and behaviours. This meant that her drive was intrinsic. The last theory on which the theoretical framework is based is Erik Erikson’s personality development stages. Erickson believed that in children are faced by different conflicts in various stages of development. He stated that these conflicts are founded on the establishment of a psychological quality or lack of it. In these times, the probability of success is high while the occurrence of failure is also high. These stages include Trust versus Mistrust, Autonomy versus Shame and Doubt, the third stage involves power and control, the fourth stage is between the five and eleven years while the fifth stage is Identity versus Confusion (Frost 5). Kyle is in the fourth stage of development and she has developed confidence through praise from her teachers. According to the Children Act 1989, local authorities have the responsibility to protect and promote children’s welfare and safeguard them from harm and abuse within families (Allen 5). All local authorities have powers and duties that are stipulated in the act. The responsibilities of the local authorises are briefly discussed. Social service departments take the lead role in ascertaining that assessments are conducted in accordance of the requirements of the act. They assess a parent’s responsibility and capacity to provide for the child’s needs. They establish whether a person is capable of taking care of a child who is under eighteen years old (Aziz, Roth and Lindley 22). The departments also have the responsibility to work with ensure agencies to promote the children’s welfare. Voluntary and private authorities play a key role in providing services to children in need. They contribute and undertake assessments for numerous reasons. These include partnerships with other agencies and under the conditions of agreement with the social service departments (Aziz, Roth and Lindley 22). Their staff has extensive knowledge in the field of child welfare and this is important where the social service department has ordered an assessment. The responsibilities of statutory authorities in caring for children should include assessing their needs and facilitating provision of services within their families (Gardner14). These entities determine the nature of needs and come up with ways of solving them. In summary, the above case study is an example of a child in need. Kyle fits the description of a child in need owing to the fact that her immediate environment might prevent her from reaching her goals. To start with, she lives in an environment that is prone to domestic violence. Secondly, her mother abuses drugs, practices prostitution and is a shoplifter. These are not the character traits of a good parent. Thirdly, there is an unhealthy parent- child relationship, as she seems to be the more sensible party. Fourthly, the family lives in a hostile environment and the mother is likely to be arrested meaning that her future is uncertain. Local authorities have the responsibility to assess the needs of such children and come up with a way of helping them out within their families. Works Cited Allen, Nick. Making Sense of the Children Act 198. John Wiley & Sons, 2005. Print. Aziz, Rachida, Roth, David and Lindley, Bridget. Understanding Family and Friends Care: The Largest UK Survey. Family Rights Group. Brayne, Hugh and Carr, Helen. Law for Social Workers. Oxford University Press, 2012. Print. Frost, Nick. Child Welfare: Child Abuse and Child Protection. Taylor & Francis, 2005. Print. Gardner, Sid. Cities, Counties, Kids, and Families: The Essential Role of Local Government University Press of America, 2005. Print. Hendrick, Harry. Child Welfare and Social Policy: An Essential Reader. The Policy Press, 2005. Print. McLeod, Alison. Listening to Children: A Practitioner's Guide. Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2008. Print. Read More