Children, Young People and Families Practitioner

Overview

The aim of this apprenticeship is not just to train individuals for effective and efficient performance but to prepare them as professionals to undertake a variety of roles and contexts across the children’s, young people and family workforce

Behaviours

Behaviours are the mindset, attitudes and approaches required to learn new knowledge and apply new skills. There should be many opportunities in the workplace for you to develop the anticipated behaviours that are required as a Children, Young People and Family Worker. Remember, you will be judged on your behaviours at end-point-assessment (EPA). Review the following behaviours and start to work on developing and showcasing these at every opportunity.

Behaviours:

The values and behaviours expected of a Children, Young People and Family Worker

Care: Respecting and valuing individuals to keep them safe, being affirming and working with them to help them make a positive difference to their lives

Compassion: Consideration and concern for children, young people and their families, combined with an understanding of the perspective of those you work with

Courage: Honesty and a positive belief in helping children, young people and families. Being confident when faced with confrontation, holding a safe space to manage and contain really difficult behaviours and working with children, young people and families to challenge and enable them to fulfil their potential 

Communication: Your work is based on building effective relationships, being perceptive and empathic and building good rapport

Competence: The relationships you build to effect change for children, young people and families will be informed by social care ethics and values and will be developed through reflective practice.

Commitment: Creating sustainable change in others by working alongside children, young people and families and being authentic, consistent, patient, persistent and resilient

Your Role & Safeguarding

Everyone who works with children needs to understand how to recognise the signs and symptoms that could indicate a child is being abused, but also how to respond and make child protection referrals.

The government guidance Working Together to Safeguard Children (2018) and What to do if you’re worried a child is being abused (2015) provides a national framework for all agencies working with children to join in partnership to safeguard our children effectively. In addition to the Keeping children safe in education 2021 (publishing.service.gov.uk)

All childcare providers need to consider this guidance and implement robust safeguarding policies and procedures for their setting, which outline how to respond to and record concerns about children and vulnerable adults.

For further support and guidance on your role in Safeguarding in Residential Care, visit Safeguarding children (scie.org.uk)