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Total errors found:
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WCAG21 A [2]:
E958 [1], P908 [1]
WCAG21 AA [2]:
E910 [1], E916 [1]
Total warnings found:
1
WCAG21 A [1]:
W889 [1]
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 282           <h2>
 282             Children’s Consultation and Participation
 282           </h2>
 284         </div>
 287         <div id="scope_box">
 288           <h3>
 288             SCOPE OF THIS CHAPTER
 288           </h3>
 289           <p>
 289             Working Together states: &ldquo;Anyone working with children should see and speak to the child;
                 listen to what they say; take their views seriously; and work with them and their families
                 collaboratively when deciding how to support their needs. Special provision should be put in place
                 to support dialogue with children who have communication difficulties, unaccompanied children,
                 refugees and those children who are victims of modern slavery and/or trafficking&rdquo;.
 289           </p>
 290           It is essential therefore that children and young people are enabled by professionals to
 290           <span class="bold">
 290             participate
 290           </span>
 290           in matters that affect them, particularly any plans or arrangements that will affect them and/or
               their family and are
 290           <span class="bold">
 290             consulted
 290           </span>
 290           with regard to processes designed to improve services both to them individually and more generally.
 291           <h3>
 291             RELATED INFORMATION
 291           </h3>
 292           <p>
 292             <a href="http://www.nya.org.uk/supporting-youth-work/youth-work-training/hear-right/"
                 target="_blank" rel="noopener">
 292               Hear by Right, National Youth Agency
 292             </a>
 292           </p>
 293           <h3>
 293             RELATED CHAPTERS
 293           </h3>
 294           <p>
 294             <a href="g_recording_guide.html">
 294               Recording Policy and Guidelines
 294             </a>
 294           </p>
 295           <p>
 295             <a href="p_sw_visits.html">
 295               Social Worker Visits to Looked After Children Procedure
 295             </a>
 295           </p>
 296           <p>
 296             <a href="p_advocacy.html">
 296               Advocacy and Independent Visitors Procedure
 296             </a>
 296           </p>
 297           <p>
 297             <a href="p_app_role_iro.html">
 297               Appointment and Role of Independent Reviewing Officers Procedure
 297             </a>
 297           </p>
 298           <p>
 298             <a href="p_look_aft_rev.html">
 298               Looked After Reviews Procedure
 299             </a>
 299           </p>
 300           <h3>
 300             AMENDMENT
 300           </h3>
 301           <p>
 301             This chapter was reviewed and updated in October 2018 to ensure it reflects current Bexley
                 processes and social work tools.
 301           </p>
 302         </div>
 303         <div id="sections">
 305           <h3 id="sections_list">
 305             Contents
 305           </h3>
 306           <ol>
 307             <li>
 307               <a href="#intro">
 307                 Introduction
 307               </a>
 307             </li>
 308             <li>
 308               <a href="#benefits">
 308                 Benefits of Participation
 308               </a>
 308             </li>
 309             <li>
 309               <a href="#barriers">
 309                 Barriers to Participation
 309               </a>
 309             </li>
 310             <li>
 310               <a href="#promoting">
 310                 Promoting Participation
 310               </a>
 310             </li>
 311             <li>
 311               <a href="#role_sw">
 311                 Participation - the Role of the Social Worker
 311               </a>
 311             </li>
 312             <li>
 312               <a href="#role_manager">
 312                 Participation - the Role of Managers
 312               </a>
 312             </li>
 313             <li>
 313               <a href="#processes">
 313                 Processes for Consulting Children and Young People
 313               </a>
 313             </li>
 314           </ol>
 315           <h3 id="intro">
 315             1. Introduction
 315           </h3>
 316           <p>
 316             Participation of children and young people in decisions about their lives is an essential part of
                 growing up and if done well it enhances children's safety and well-being and improves services
                 designed to support and protect them. In the world of social care it is often happening in complex
                 and emotionally charged situations. To be done well it requires a commitment at all levels of an
                 organisation to reflect on and promote:
 316           </p>
 317           <ul>
 318             <li>
 318               Positive attitudes to children;
 318             </li>
 319             <li>
 319               Skills at communicating;
 319             </li>
 320             <li>
 320               Financial resources;
 320             </li>
 321             <li>
 321               Commitment to developing services which support children's participation, such as advocacy and
                   participation services;
 321             </li>
 322             <li>
 322               Honest consideration of what expectations are of what can be achieved and what the level of
                   willingness is to change existing services and decisions in response to children's views.
 322             </li>
 323           </ul>
 324           <p>
 324             The Local Authority is actively seeking to ensure children and young people are consulted about
                 decisions and processes that affect them.
 324             <a
                 href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/175391/Munro-Revie
                 w.pdf#page=27" target="_blank" rel="noopener">
 324               The Munro Review
 324             </a>
 324             made clear that what is important to children and young people is 'reliability, honesty and
                 continuity'. The Local Authority is committed to ensuring that children and young people are
                 informed about what is happening to them and promotes opportunities to contribute to what is
                 happening. The aim is to share and practise positive approaches to effective communication and
                 learning through active listening. The Local Authority is committed to both speaking and listening
                 clearly, purposefully and honestly with children and young people.
 324           </p>
 325           <p>
 325             The Local Authority seeks to consider identity, diversity, culture, sexual orientation, language,
                 disability, delayed speech, low confidence and trust in all its interactions with both children
                 and adults.
 325           </p>
 326           <p>
 326             Every member of our staff is committed to seeking and recording the views of every child they work
                 with. They will also record the decisions that are made and the influence that the views of the
                 child/young person have had on those decisions. Where decisions are made that are different from
                 or contrary to the views of the child or young person this will be clearly recorded with the
                 reasons for the decision clearly explained.
 326           </p>
 327           <p>
 327             In addition, the Local Authority will ensure that systems are in place to support formal
                 consultation with young people's groups and will seek to aggregate individual issues and concerns
                 so that managers may consider the impact that current services have on young people. This
                 information may be used to inform future developments.
 327           </p>
 328           <p>
 328             In 2017 Bexley launched the new Children in Care Council, Positive Journeys. This group will be
                 consulted and engaged in decisions about the services we deliver for looked after
                 children. Engagement work, the work of Positive Journeys, is led by The Young Director, this is a
                 new role within the service. In 2018 Bexley launched Positive Journeys Seniors as our formal
                 consultation and engagement function for young adults leaving our care.
 328           </p>
 329           <p>
 329             Our formal feedback loops across the service are:
 329           </p>
 330           <p>
 330             <span class="bold">
 330               Children and Families Feedback
 330             </span>
 330           </p>
 331           <p>
 331             The standard feedback form is used across children's services. It should be given or used with
                 children, young people and their families at regular as a means of getting their feedback on the
                 quality and effectiveness of the service provided. This is to be used to inform ongoing service
                 improvement. This form is available on Liquid Logic.
 331           </p>
 332           <h3 id="benefits">
 332             2. Benefits of Participation
 332           </h3>
 333           <p>
 333             Much has been written on the benefits and barriers to participation in matters that affect them.
                 In brief the benefits for children and young people are:
 333           </p>
 334           <ul>
 335             <li>
 335               Having a safe space to reflect on the events that have brought them into contact with Social
                   Care;
 335             </li>
 336             <li>
 336               The opportunity to give their version of what has happened to them and to say what they would
                   like to happen in the future;
 336             </li>
 337             <li>
 337               The sense of empowerment that comes from being listened to and seeing what one has said making a
                   difference to what happens;
 337             </li>
 338             <li>
 338               The possibility of having their concerns and issues dealt with at an early stage, which could
                   have an immediate impact for them in terms of how they identify their 'quality of life';
 338             </li>
 339             <li>
 339               The opportunity to have explained to them what is happening in the present moment and what is
                   likely to happen in the future and what will be done to keep them (and their siblings) safe.
 339             </li>
 340           </ul>
 341           <p>
 341             For parents/carers the benefits of children's participation can be:
 341           </p>
 342           <ul>
 343             <li>
 343               The opportunity (perhaps for the first time) to hear their children's views about what has
                   happened and what they want to change;
 343             </li>
 344             <li>
 344               A model of communicating that may improve their relationship with their child(ren).
 344             </li>
 345           </ul>
 346           <p>
 346             For professionals and organisations offering services to children and young people the benefits
                 can be:
 346           </p>
 347           <ul>
 348             <li>
 348               Reinforcement of a focus on the child's safety and wellbeing;
 348             </li>
 349             <li>
 349               A self auditing tool;
 349             </li>
 350             <li>
 350               The greater likelihood of effective engagement with the Plan by the child / young person
                   themselves;
 350             </li>
 351             <li>
 351               A focus for all professionals to work from.
 351             </li>
 352           </ul>
 353           <h3 id="barriers">
 353             3. Barriers to Participation
 353           </h3>
 354           <p>
 354             There are a number of barriers to participation. Broadly speaking these are:
 354           </p>
 355           <ul>
 356             <li>
 356               Structural - complex procedures and lack of clarity about responsibilities; too many changes of
                   personnel;
 356             </li>
 357             <li>
 357               A lack of clarity about what participation is or confusion over how it will be addressed and a
                   lack of clarity about what it can and cannot change and what it should deliver for the child,
                   the family and the organisation;
 357             </li>
 358             <li>
 358               Competence - staff lacking in experience or having an inability to effectively communicate with
                   children, or children of a particular age or from a particular culture;
 358             </li>
 359             <li>
 359               Capacity - a lack of time (e.g. staff too overwhelmed by other pressures)or other resources
                   required to enable participation, thus 'rushing' or making it a 'box ticking' exercise;
 359             </li>
 360             <li>
 360               Inadequate plans that fail to be clear about who will be responsible for ensuring participation;
 360             </li>
 361             <li>
 361               Children's behaviour - can be misinterpreted and sometimes causes a barrier for professionals
                   and carers. Those seeking to engage often need a variety of tools / methods and patience / space
                   to deal with this to promote engagement;
 361             </li>
 362             <li>
 362               Children themselves can become disinterested and disengaged because of delays;
 362             </li>
 363             <li>
 363               Children are far more spontaneous and their timescales are far shorter;
 363             </li>
 364             <li>
 364               Professionals need to ensure that children have a variety of times, people, places and
                   approaches to participation available to them (i.e. seeing children on their own, allowing time
                   after traumatic events, using technology relevant to children and young people).
 364             </li>
 365           </ul>
 366           <h3 id="promoting">
 366             4. Promoting Participation
 366           </h3>
 367           <p>
 367             The Local Authority has a number of formal processes for seeking the Participation and
                 consultation of children and young people. Staff, carers, managers and others who come into
                 contact with children are encouraged and enabled to see each and every interaction as a potential
                 opportunity to develop trust and confidence such that children and young people feel able to
                 confide and state their views and preferences in matters that affect them.
 367           </p>
 368           <h3 id="role_sw">
 368             5. Participation - the Role of the Social Worker
 368           </h3>
 369           <p>
 369             The most important means of encouraging and enabling participation by looked after children and
                 young people in decisions that affect them and their lives remains the relationship with their
                 Social Worker and other significant professionals and adults in their lives.
 369           </p>
 370           <p>
 370             Enabling children and young people who have not previously had opportunities to express their
                 views is demanding and can be challenging work that requires creativity, empathy and resilience on
                 the part of the worker. Consultations need to be planned for, reflected on and, if necessary,
                 returned to in order that children and young people are given every opportunity to express their
                 views.
 370           </p>
 371           <p>
 371             In order for them to express views about matters that affect them it is also vital that children
                 and young people are in possession of information and have experiences that enable them to make
                 informed choices.
 371           </p>
 372           <p>
 372             If participation is not possible or is restricted for whatever reason, steps should be taken to
                 ensure those affected are informed of decisions as soon as practicable after they are made, and an
                 explanation for the decision given, together with the opportunity to make a comment and express
                 their views.
 372           </p>
 373           <p>
 373             If it is then felt that a different decision may have been appropriate, steps should be taken to
                 reconsider the decision.
 373           </p>
 374           <p>
 374             If decisions are made against people's wishes, they should be informed of the decision and the
                 reasons for the decision should be explained. In these circumstances, the person should be
                 informed of any rights they have to formally challenge the decision, and of the availability of
                 the Complaints or Grievance Procedure (see
 374             <a href="p_reps_complaints.html">
 374               Children's Social Care Statutory Complaints Procedure
 374             </a>
 374             ).
 374           </p>
 375           <p>
 375             Sometimes children and young people express their preferences through their behaviour rather than
                 through words i.e. by running away or by having tantrums. It is important to attempt to see beyond
                 the behaviour and to try to see what the child or young person is trying to express. (
 375             <span class="bold">
 375               Note
 375             </span>
 375             : that where children have returned home from having run away, the 'return' interviews should be
                 conducted by an independent person who has been trained to undertake this. (See
 375             <a href="files/missing_joint_pol.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">
 375               Missing Procedure
 375             </a>
 375             ).
 375           </p>
 376           <p>
 376             Finally, children and young people should be made aware of the systems and processes available to
                 them if they wish to raise concerns or complain and what, if any, other forms of redress may be
                 available to them if things go wrong.
 376           </p>
 377           <h3 id="role_manager">
 377             6. Participation - the Role of Managers
 377           </h3>
 378           <p>
 378             Managers must ensure that social workers and/or staff have the time and resources available to
                 them to ensure the effective participation of children and young people.
 378           </p>
 379           <p>
 379             Managers should:
 379           </p>
 380           <ul>
 381             <li>
 381               Use supervision to consider issues relating to the Voice of the Child in ongoing cases;
 381             </li>
 382             <li>
 382               Check that records show where and how the Voice of the Child has been sought, what was said and
                   how the child's wishes have been responded to and, if not, why not;
 382             </li>
 383             <li>
 383               Review, on a regular basis, the various methodologies whereby children's views are sought;
 383             </li>
 384             <li>
 384               Review complaints or concerns raised by children and young people and what actions have been
                   taken to address these;
 384             </li>
 385             <li>
 385               Review compliments to build on this;
 385             </li>
 386             <li>
 386               Consider how representative issues raised by children and young people are in relation to such
                   issues as gender, culture, sexuality and disability;
 386             </li>
 387             <li>
 387               Ensure processes designed to aggregate issues raised by children and young people are in place
                   and are routinely being used;
 387             </li>
 388             <li>
 388               Ensure processes are in place whereby it can be fed back to both individual children,
                   practitioners and the wider family and professional group (as appropriate) what changes have
                   been made as a result of issues raised.
 388             </li>
 389           </ul>
 390           <h3 id="processes">
 390             7. Processes for Consulting Children and Young People
 390           </h3>
 391           <ol style="list-style-type:lower-roman">
 392             <li>
 392               Children and young people can be involved in the development of services through the&nbsp;
 392               <span class="category">
 392                 Children in Care Council (CiCC)
 392               </span>
 392               Positive Journeys and Positive Journeys Seniors are the Bexley Children in Care Council and care
                   leavers forum and meet regularly. They have a workplan and set activities and should be engaged
                   in decisions about services that affect them as often as possible.
 392               <br>
 393               <br>
 394               Children and young people are also involved in recruitment and selection of senior staff through
                   the young people selection panels?
 394             </li>
 395             <li>
 395               Looked After Reviews and other Meetings (see&nbsp;
 395               <a href="p_look_aft_rev.html">
 395                 Looked After Reviews Procedure
 395               </a>
 395               );
 395               <br>
 396               <br>
 397               <span class="bold">
 397                 Looked After Children and Young People
 397               </span>
 397               are sent a consultation form prior to their looked after review which has the sub title 'being
                   involved in your review. There are two age groups, one for children under 11 and one for young
                   people 11+. For older children we also ask them if they would like to chair their review and the
                   IRO will prepare with them the agenda and sit alongside them at the review for support;
 397               <br>
 398               <br>
 399               After the review children and young people are given a feedback form once a year to ask them how
                   they took part; whether they understand what the looked after review is for? Did they feel
                   listened to and felt able to have a say about their care? Whether they know what the plan is for
                   their future? We also ask them if there is anything else we could do to make them feel they can
                   take part in their review meeting.
 399             </li>
 400             <li>
 400               Every Review and/or meeting relating to a child's case is an opportunity for children and young
                   people to participate in their Care Plan and arrangements. 
 400               <span class="bold">
 400                 Children with Child Protection Plans
 400               </span>
 400               are prepared for a case conference by their social worker, who use the the SOS direct work tools
                   to gain their wishes and feelings. The Chair will also visit the child, or if they are
                   attending, meet them before the conference to explain what will happen and how they wish to
                   participate. The chair might also see them after the review to talk about the outcome;
 400             </li>
 401             <li>
 401               Advocacy and Independent Visitors (see&nbsp;
 401               <a href="p_advocacy.html">
 401                 Advocacy and Independent Visitors Procedure
 401               </a>
 401               );
 401               <br>
 402               <br>
 403               Advocates and Independent Visitors support and assist children and young people to participate
                   in the services offered.
 403             </li>
 404             <li>
 404               Support to children who have communication difficulties see also&nbsp;
 404               <a href="p_child_disability.html">
 404                 Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Procedure
 404               </a>
 404               ;
 404               <br>
 405               <br>
 406               Support and specialist services to children who have communication difficulties will always be
                   offered. For children for whom English is not their first language a translator should be
                   considered to enable the child to contribute. For children with communication difficulties as a
                   result of physical or learning disabilities people who can use whatever medium of communication
                   is most helpful to the child will be used;
 406             </li>
 407             <li>
 407               Social media
 407               <br>
 408               <br>
 409               Increasingly children and young people are becoming confident users of social media such as
                   Facebook, texting, Twitter and other apps. We see this as an opportunity for enabling children
                   and young people to participate in decisions about their life whether by texting their IRO or by
                   using social media applications.
 409             </li>
 410           </ol>
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