Critical analysis of safeguarding children including legislation, policy and professional practice

Essay by lizfashCollege, UndergraduateA, September 2014

download word file, 17 pages 0.0

A. Critical analysis of safeguarding children including legislation, policy and professional practice (4000 word - 100%):

United Nations Convention on the Rights of the child (UNCR 1989), Article 1 defines a 'child' as a person below the age of 18. Law is used in order to legitimise society; children are deeply and permanently affected by the laws that are made and enforced by adults. Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the children is based on "protecting, preventing and ensure safety" towards children, (Reference). Within society there are many professionals and agencies operated in order to protect and reinforce children's rights. The language of safeguarding children came about with the advent of The Children Act 1989. The Children's Act (1989) and (2004) are also legislation which states that those who work with children have priority to keep them safe. The Children's Act 2004 focuses more on 'integrating services around meeting the needs of children and their families', which resulted in professionals working more closely together (DfES, 2004a).

Measures which also are seen to be protecting the interests of the child, would be the European Convention on Human Rights and the United Convention on the Rights of the Child are seen to in-fact have 'limited impact' focusing less on the actual rights of the child and more on parental rights in respect of their children's education (Blythe and Parkin, 1999, p. 118). Although children do not have any say in who will govern them, it is seen as essential for children to be protected within this integrated system we live in. Although professionals have the duty of the protection of children "everyone who comes into contact with children and families has a role to play", any organisation or agency can work together in order to provide consistent support...