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Every child matters
Nov. 22nd, 2008 01:47 pmOne of the things I have to do this term is read through the Every Child Matters government white paper, which represents the post Victoria Climbié attempt to prevent children from slipping through the cracks by encouraging inter agency working and personalised approaches to child protection and child services.
I am trying to read through it with interest and positivity, although it's occasionally a strain - I don't know why it should be impossible to write an engaging government document, but it would seem that it is. Actually, I found some of it interesting from the point of view of myself as a Guider because I can see where I as a teacher fit into this framework, partly because my role is so clear to others - if there is any kind of multi agency working going on, it's clear that the child will have a teacher and that they should therefore be involved. It's not so clear that the child will have a Brown Owl or Guider and I'm not sure how or if I would be asked to get involved from that angle but the document seems to me to make clear that I should. I'll have to go and have a further look on the GirlGuiding UK website for more info, see if they've any guidance.
Anyway. The reason I had to break off to write a post was that I got to the section on health services, and what do I find that health services are particularly enjoined to be on the look out for? Is it signs of abuse? Or neglect? No, or at least not yet - that may come in later, I suppose. No, this is what health services are going to do:
Yes, we'd better be on the lookout for obesity! God forbid they should grow up with a non-normal BMI.
The schools specific document seems mostly to be about extended schools, although I'm hazy as to how that fits into the framework to be honest - I suppose while they're in school they're not wandering around on their own or in company but it wouldn't have automatically occured to me that an initiative which seems to encourage less parental contact would necessarily be in the best interests of the child. I suppose that's coloured by the fact that I was very lucky in my parents, but I'm not a big fan of providing more opportunities for institutions to take over child raising on a general scale.
I am trying to read through it with interest and positivity, although it's occasionally a strain - I don't know why it should be impossible to write an engaging government document, but it would seem that it is. Actually, I found some of it interesting from the point of view of myself as a Guider because I can see where I as a teacher fit into this framework, partly because my role is so clear to others - if there is any kind of multi agency working going on, it's clear that the child will have a teacher and that they should therefore be involved. It's not so clear that the child will have a Brown Owl or Guider and I'm not sure how or if I would be asked to get involved from that angle but the document seems to me to make clear that I should. I'll have to go and have a further look on the GirlGuiding UK website for more info, see if they've any guidance.
Anyway. The reason I had to break off to write a post was that I got to the section on health services, and what do I find that health services are particularly enjoined to be on the look out for? Is it signs of abuse? Or neglect? No, or at least not yet - that may come in later, I suppose. No, this is what health services are going to do:
They will provide better information about, access to and choice of health care and advice to help prevent ill health and disease. Health services, working together with other children's services, will also encourage and promote healthier lifestyles for children and young people in accordance with the proposals set out in the Public Health White Paper – Choosing Health: making healthy choices easier. The proposals include the development of personal health plans for children and young people and will help to identify children at risk of obesity and other negative health outcomes.
Yes, we'd better be on the lookout for obesity! God forbid they should grow up with a non-normal BMI.
The schools specific document seems mostly to be about extended schools, although I'm hazy as to how that fits into the framework to be honest - I suppose while they're in school they're not wandering around on their own or in company but it wouldn't have automatically occured to me that an initiative which seems to encourage less parental contact would necessarily be in the best interests of the child. I suppose that's coloured by the fact that I was very lucky in my parents, but I'm not a big fan of providing more opportunities for institutions to take over child raising on a general scale.