K218, Tma03 Imporance of Knowlege of the Law.
Why is knowledge of the law important to children, young people and families and to those who work with them?
This essay will discuss the law and the government’s present policies relating to the issue of children’s rights and protection. Aspects of the law, which are passed by Parliament as legislations then have to be interpreted by the Local Authorities so they can formulate policies for those who work with children young people and families. The Children Act 1989 and Every Child Matters are two of many policies which have been introduced. It will also look into how such regulations relate to working with children, young people and families. As well as looking at the development of government initiatives, it will also explore the importance of knowledge of the law to children, young people and families, as well as some key concepts of the law such as ‘best interest’ where those working in this area concentrate on the prime concerns of the child or young person.
The British government currently has a comprehensive child welfare system under which all local authorities have duties and responsibilities towards children and young people within their community of care, which is designed in a way that advises practice changes and sets the standards of which to follow (K218, Learning Guide 11, Section 3). Not only has this laid the foundations for many of the features which can be seen in current legislation today, it has also formed the progress of social values and the major influence of these upon society as a whole. Therefore within early twentieth century welfare policy there has been a major change in the way in which the British government recognizes that the needs of children, young people and their families need to be addressed.
So with this in mind, the British government have become increasingly aware of developing such policies that remain particularly focused upon areas that impact on the welfare of children, young people and their
This essay will discuss the law and the government’s present policies relating to the issue of children’s rights and protection. Aspects of the law, which are passed by Parliament as legislations then have to be interpreted by the Local Authorities so they can formulate policies for those who work with children young people and families. The Children Act 1989 and Every Child Matters are two of many policies which have been introduced. It will also look into how such regulations relate to working with children, young people and families. As well as looking at the development of government initiatives, it will also explore the importance of knowledge of the law to children, young people and families, as well as some key concepts of the law such as ‘best interest’ where those working in this area concentrate on the prime concerns of the child or young person.
The British government currently has a comprehensive child welfare system under which all local authorities have duties and responsibilities towards children and young people within their community of care, which is designed in a way that advises practice changes and sets the standards of which to follow (K218, Learning Guide 11, Section 3). Not only has this laid the foundations for many of the features which can be seen in current legislation today, it has also formed the progress of social values and the major influence of these upon society as a whole. Therefore within early twentieth century welfare policy there has been a major change in the way in which the British government recognizes that the needs of children, young people and their families need to be addressed.
So with this in mind, the British government have become increasingly aware of developing such policies that remain particularly focused upon areas that impact on the welfare of children, young people and their
References: Foley P. (2011) ‘Public policy, children and young people’ in O’Dell L. and Leverett S. (eds) Working with children and young people, Milton Keynes, The Open University. Lansdown G. (2011) ‘Children’s welfare and children’s rights’ in O’Dell L. and Leverett S. (eds) Working with children and young people, Milton Keynes, The Open University. Legislation.gov.uk (2012), Children Act 1989, Local authority’s duty to investigate, http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1989/41/contents (accessed 11th February 2012) No Limits (2012), Helping young people help themselves, http://www.nolimitshelp.org.uk/ (accessed 12th February 2012) The Open University (2011) K218 Working with Children, Young People and Families, Learning guide 7 'Knowledge, values and reflection ', The Open University, http://learn.open.ac.uk/mod/oucontent/view.php?id=579207&direct=1 [Accessed 28 January 2012] The Open University (2011) K218 Working with Children, Young People and Families, Learning guide 11 ‘Role of law’, The Open University, http://learn.open.ac.uk/mod/oucontent/view.php?id=579235&direct=1 [Accessed 28 January 2012]