Library
This library is a comprehensive collection of national and international good practice, policy, legal and academic publications, reports and resources on children and young people’s participation in decision-making.
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The participation of children and young people in care: insights from an analysis of national inspection reports in the Republic of Ireland
The term “participation” is widely used to refer to the involvement of children and young people in decision-making on issues that affect their lives. The Health and Information Quality Authority (HIQA) is the national inspectorate for social care in Ireland. HIQA monitors Tusla, Ireland’s child and family agency, for compliance with national children’s standards, including standards on children and young people’s participation rights. This paper outlines findings of a secondary analysis of data in relation to participation standards in HIQA foster care, residential care and special care inspection reports over a two-year period from 2013 to 2015 (n = 40). The thematic analysis explores the degree to which the reports found that children in care are provided with the opportunity to influence decisions in relation to their everyday lives, to participate in child in care reviews, receive information, avail of advocacy services and have access to a complaints mechanism. While there is much evidence of good practice across all sectors, some notable differences between the realisation of participation standards in residential care and foster care were found. This baseline analysis was undertaken prior to the implementation of a comprehensive participation strategy by Tusla across the organisation and highlights areas in which practice can be improved or mainstreamed in this work programme.
Report on the National Consultation with Young Children
The purpose of the consultation process is to inform the development of a whole-of Government strategy for babies, young children and their families. This Strategy, which is one of three constituent strategies under Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures 1 , will focus on five outcomes for children.
A Whole-of-Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families 2019-2028 (Summary)
Summary of the First 5 whole-of-Government strategy to improve the lives of babies, young children and their families. This strategy It is a ten-year plan to help make sure all children have positive early experiences and get a great start in life. The First 5 Strategy uses evidence to identify goals, objectives and the specific actions required from across Government to support children (and their families) in the early years of life. First 5 commits to major initiatives on family leave, children’s health services, parenting supports, child-friendly communities and Early Learning and Care services among a broad range of actions. The Strategy will significantly enhance early childhood and make a huge contribution to the lives of young children, society and the economy over the short, medium and long term.
A Whole-of-Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families 2019-2028
First 5 is a whole-of-Government strategy to improve the lives of babies, young children and their families. It is a ten-year plan to help make sure all children have positive early experiences and get a great start in life. The First 5 Strategy uses evidence to identify goals, objectives and the specific actions required from across Government to support children (and their families) in the early years of life. First 5 commits to major initiatives on family leave, children’s health services, parenting supports, child-friendly communities and Early Learning and Care services among a broad range of actions. The Strategy will significantly enhance early childhood and make a huge contribution to the lives of young children, society and the economy over the short, medium and long term.
“Take My Hand” Young People’s Experiences of Mental Health Services
The report, “Take My Hand”, highlights young people’s experiences of, and perspectives on mental health services, based on their own journeys from community-based primary healthcare services through to inpatient treatment. The report gives a rare insight into the experiences of 25 young people aged 14-17 in five of Ireland’s six inpatient units for children and young people. The young people spoke about what has helped them in this journey, what they found challenging and what changes they feel are needed to improve mental health supports and services.
It’s Our Brexit Too: Children’s Rights, Children’s Voices
This is a report on the views, hopes and fears of young people, North and South, and is the outcome of a unique cross-border conference hosted by the Ombudsman for Children’s Office and the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People. It’s Our Brexit Too: Children’s Rights, Children’s Voices represents the views of 120 young people from both sides of the island who came together at a conference to explore how Brexit could affect them. It outlines considerations and protections that should feed into decisions on areas such as education, child protection, freedom of movement, family life and health. The conference hosted in Newry in November 2017, was organised and led by a cross-border Steering Group of young people. Tánaiste Simon Coveney participated in the conference via video link, and it was attended by Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for NI Chloe Smyth MP, Mairead McGuinness MEP, Jim Nicholson MEP and senior officials from both sides of the island.
Report on Consultations with Young People Engaged in Garda Youth Diversion Projects
This report details the findings of consultations with young people on Garda Youth Diversion Projects (GYDPs). The key objectives of the consultations were to explore young people’s views and opinions on how: · GYDPs assist them to move away from and/or prevent them from becoming involved in criminal and/or anti-social behaviour. · How important it is to young people that projects are located close to where they live or if they would travel to other areas in order to participate in a project.
Conceptualizing the role of adults within youth-adult partnerships: An example from practice
This paper conceptualizes the specific roles that adults provide and the complex interactions between youth and adults that emerge within youth participation efforts. In particular, we draw on our own experiences with a multi-year youth participation in community organization project to articulate specific adult roles. These include: 1) Training and Capacity Building, 2) Challenging and Pushing, 3) Politicizing and Questioning, 4) Legitimizing and Opening, and 5) Sustaining and Gluing.
The Voice of the Child in Social Work Assessments: Age-Appropriate Communication with Children
This article describes a child-centred method for engaging with children involved in the child protection and welfare system. One of the primary arguments underpinning this research is that social workers need to be skilled communicators to engage with children about deeply personal and painful issues. There is a wide range of research that maintains play is the language of children and the most effective way to learn about children is through their play. Considering this, the overarching aim of this study was to investigate the role of play skills in supporting communication between children and social workers during child protection and welfare assessments.
The Voice of the Child in Child Protection: Whose Voice?
This paper draws upon research undertaken in Scotland but the findings of the study are relevant across the UK and beyond. Child protection documentation including reports and case conference minutes were analysed to assess to what extent the child’s views were presented to, and considered in, decision making forums. In particular the study considers how the child’s views and wishes are represented in writing, and highlights the ways which professionals filtered and interpreted the child’s view rather than presented it in its pure form.