M1 - Discuss how policies and procedures help children, young people and their
families whilst the child is being looked after.
In this assignment, I will explain what policies and procedures relate to a case study from P1. The case study I chose
is ‘parents may have had a serious accident’. I will then discuss how those policies and procedures help children,
young people and their parents whilst the child is being looked after.
Case study;
Parents may have had a serious accident: This case study is about Amy, a 3-year-old girl whose parents got into a
car accident. While Amy was at school her mum and dad went to visit her grandparents, who live 2 hours away. They
lost track of time and forgot they had to pick her up from school. They were rushing to get back and collided with
another car on the motorway, they both died instantly. This left Amy with nobody to care for her so the state had to
decide what would happen to her next. During the time that the decision was being made, Amy was put into foster
care. The state assessed Amy’s grandparents under section 31 and decided they were not suitable to care for her
due to their age. Her godparents will have custody over Amy after also being assessed by the state, because they
were next of kin. Amy was very close with her godparents so this decision was very good for her well-being. A social
worker would regularly check on Amy in her new home to see how she’s doing, and how the godparents were
coping with the situation. Amy was doing good because she is only 3 years old so she doesn’t fully understand the
situation, and she isn’t able to comprehend that her parents died. Furthermore, the godparents were taking good
care of Amy and they were able to meet all her needs.
Policies and procedures;
United nations convention on the rights of a child 1989 (UNCRC); This is an international agreement on how
adults and the government must work together to ensure the rights of children and young people are met.
There are 42 articles relating to children’s rights, which relate to looked after children. Children’s rights
include the right to be free from violence, the right to play, and the right to express themselves and have
their views taken into account. Furthermore, the convention includes extra rights to make sure that children
who do not live at home have all their needs met. This convention can be applied to my case study. The state
made the decision that Amy should live with her godparents rather than her grandparents because they
could meet all of Amy’s rights. For example, her godparents are more physically fit so they are able to take
Amy out. They also have children of their own so Amy could play with them, and improve her social skills.
Every Child Matters 2003 ECM; This legislation consists of five principles; be healthy, stay safe, enjoy and
achieve, make a positive contribution and experience economic well-being It applies to children and young
people from birth to the age of 19. All organisations and adults must make sure to follow these five
principles in order to provide the best care for children and young people. This legislation can be applied to
my case study. The state and Amy’s godparents worked together to make sure that all of her needs are met.
For example, her godparents will make sure that she is always safe by never letting her fo outside without an
adult.
Children’s Act 1989-2004; These Acts were created to make sure that all children, young people and their
families had equal provision. This also includes disabled children or children with learning difficulties. The
Children’s Act was updated in Scotland in 1995 with the idea that “the welfare of the child is paramount”.
This Act can be applied to my case study. The state has provided provision to support Amy and her
godparents, by making sure that she goes to the best home possible and that her godparents have
everything that they need to look after her. Furthermore, social services will regularly visit Amy and her
godparents to further support them, and to see how they’re coping.
Unit 10
families whilst the child is being looked after.
In this assignment, I will explain what policies and procedures relate to a case study from P1. The case study I chose
is ‘parents may have had a serious accident’. I will then discuss how those policies and procedures help children,
young people and their parents whilst the child is being looked after.
Case study;
Parents may have had a serious accident: This case study is about Amy, a 3-year-old girl whose parents got into a
car accident. While Amy was at school her mum and dad went to visit her grandparents, who live 2 hours away. They
lost track of time and forgot they had to pick her up from school. They were rushing to get back and collided with
another car on the motorway, they both died instantly. This left Amy with nobody to care for her so the state had to
decide what would happen to her next. During the time that the decision was being made, Amy was put into foster
care. The state assessed Amy’s grandparents under section 31 and decided they were not suitable to care for her
due to their age. Her godparents will have custody over Amy after also being assessed by the state, because they
were next of kin. Amy was very close with her godparents so this decision was very good for her well-being. A social
worker would regularly check on Amy in her new home to see how she’s doing, and how the godparents were
coping with the situation. Amy was doing good because she is only 3 years old so she doesn’t fully understand the
situation, and she isn’t able to comprehend that her parents died. Furthermore, the godparents were taking good
care of Amy and they were able to meet all her needs.
Policies and procedures;
United nations convention on the rights of a child 1989 (UNCRC); This is an international agreement on how
adults and the government must work together to ensure the rights of children and young people are met.
There are 42 articles relating to children’s rights, which relate to looked after children. Children’s rights
include the right to be free from violence, the right to play, and the right to express themselves and have
their views taken into account. Furthermore, the convention includes extra rights to make sure that children
who do not live at home have all their needs met. This convention can be applied to my case study. The state
made the decision that Amy should live with her godparents rather than her grandparents because they
could meet all of Amy’s rights. For example, her godparents are more physically fit so they are able to take
Amy out. They also have children of their own so Amy could play with them, and improve her social skills.
Every Child Matters 2003 ECM; This legislation consists of five principles; be healthy, stay safe, enjoy and
achieve, make a positive contribution and experience economic well-being It applies to children and young
people from birth to the age of 19. All organisations and adults must make sure to follow these five
principles in order to provide the best care for children and young people. This legislation can be applied to
my case study. The state and Amy’s godparents worked together to make sure that all of her needs are met.
For example, her godparents will make sure that she is always safe by never letting her fo outside without an
adult.
Children’s Act 1989-2004; These Acts were created to make sure that all children, young people and their
families had equal provision. This also includes disabled children or children with learning difficulties. The
Children’s Act was updated in Scotland in 1995 with the idea that “the welfare of the child is paramount”.
This Act can be applied to my case study. The state has provided provision to support Amy and her
godparents, by making sure that she goes to the best home possible and that her godparents have
everything that they need to look after her. Furthermore, social services will regularly visit Amy and her
godparents to further support them, and to see how they’re coping.
Unit 10
