Explain why a person-centred approach is important in safeguarding the well-being of children or young people.
Effective safeguarding systems are child centred. Failings in safeguarding systems are too often the result of losing sight of the needs and views of the children within them or placing the interests of adults ahead of the needs of the children.
For example in the case of Victoria Climbie too much time was spent differing to the needs of Kauao and Manning and, not enough time was spent on protecting a vulnerable and defenceless child. Children are clear on what they want, they want an effective safeguarding system, they want to be respected, their views heard, to have stable relationships with professionals built on trust and for consistent support provided for their individual needs. Anyone working with children should seek and speak to children, listen to what they say, take their views seriously and work with the collaboratively when deciding how to meet their needs. A child centred approach is supported by the Children Ac 1989- the Act requires local authorities to give due regards to a child’s wishes when determining what services to provide, and before making decisions about the action to be taken to protect individual children. The Equality Act 2010 puts a responsibility on public authorities to have due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination and promote equality of opportunity, this applies to the process of identification of need and risk faced by the individual child and the process of assessment.
No child or group of children must be treated any less favourably than others in being able to access effective services which meet their particular needs. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child- this is an international agreement that protects the rights of children and provides a child centred framework for the development of services to children.
