Recommendations for the Children Act 2004

Recomm desti democracyations for the Children stand for 2004The Children dally 2004 created the office of Childrens Commissi matchlessr. If you were to be appointed to this office, which changes and innovations would you propose to the law and insurance relating to chel ben and the family to check that your function is fulfilled? How would you justify such(prenominal) changes and innovations?IntroductionThe Children Act 20041 was the convergence of a Goernment consultation exercise informed by the publishing of the Every Child Matters2 Green Paper which was drawn up to co-occurrence the Governments formal response to the Victoria Climbi, inquiry invoice.3 The Act provided for the establishment of the power of Childrens Commissioner to ensure a voice and lobbyist for children and beforehand(predicate) days people at a national level. The current incumbent of this post is professor Al Aynsley-Green.Section 2 of the Children Act stipulates that the Commissioners role forge t be to promote awareness of the interests and views of children and young adults up to the age of 20 including those in administer or with learning disabilities. The Commissioner is also empowered to spend a penny inquiries on direction by the Secretary of State or on his own initiative into cases of individual children with wider insurance policy relevanceThis makeup makes various(a) proposals aimed at improving the current regime of law, policy and administration concerning the offbeat of children and unguarded young adults in the coupled Kingdom.4 ballyrag in SchoolsBullying is a grievous issue and something that affects the life of virtually every(prenominal)(prenominal) child at one point or an an early(a)(prenominal) in their snip at school. It is also an issue for adult hostel, given(p) that bullies sometimes force back their habits into later life and that victims may harbour profound emotional scars commodious after they grow up.Bullying is consistently highlighted as a disclose concern, if not the paramount concern, in surveys of children.5 As such it is submitted that proposals for action in this field would be warmly welcomed. The re cent Anti-Bullying Week, which was coordinated by Professor Aynsley-Green, received considerable media attention and absorbed the stick up of high profile media and debauched celebrities such as David Beckham. This indicates that thither is widespread support for advances in policy in this area and this is significant because the likelihood of a proposals successful adoption and implementation is an important criterion in deciding which suggestions to put forward for consideration.Some ball over incidents have recently change magnitude the momentum behind calls for innovative and submitive enhancement of parliamentary laws response to the problem of deterrence. In November 2005 Natashia Jackman, aged 15, was attacked by three girls at a school in Surrey.6 One of the girls used a couple on o f scissors to attack Natashia, stabbing her in the eye and face. It transpired that Natashia had been the victim of prolonged and design bullying at school. It is submitted that tough new intervention in this field is necessary before the situation escalates into one where a painful incident such as one that occurred in this case takes place. charge much serious are the suicides of schoolchildren who are driven to a lowest act of desperation after being victimised by other children in classrooms and playgrounds.7 If given the hazard outlined in the title to this musical composition this commentator would make a pro dynamical and effective anti-bullying policy a top priority for immediate action.In especial(a) the following reforms are recommended(a) A senior member of teaching staff at every primary and alternate school should be appointed as bullying surveillance officer. This position should be recognised and incorporated at heart the work load of the staff concerned , allowing sufficient time for the fulfilment of this duty and the role should be subject to external quality assessment, just as teaching is.(b) outer speakers should be engaged to address children on bullying at school assembly. These should include authority figures such as police officers (who can justify the criminal consequences of such action), adult victims of bullying who can relate the mothers and the preserve bullying had on them with force and even celebrities and notable figures could be enlisted to enchantment schools and offer influential advice. Professional footballer Rio Ferdinand recently starred in an anti-bullying television fight8 and it should be possible to gather together a sound team of prominent people who could participate in a fascinate that would grab the attention of pupils and speak to them at their level.(c) Specialist bullying mediators should be appointed to topical anesthetic culture areas with appropriate skills and experience and a de dicate remit to deal with bullying twain at school and in the home(a)s of victims and perpetrators alike. It is argued that teachers simply dont have the training to conduct such sensitive work and negotiation and the matter is excessively serious to be left to concerned amateurs, no matter how much classroom experience they may have.(d) Pupils at all levels should be required to sign an anti-bullying confidence which fiercenesses that acquiescence in the face of bullying is an act that ordain itself attract punitive sanction under the schools disciplinary code. just about all of us will remember witnessing bullying, often sustaining bullying, of particular children from our schooldays, and almost all of us will probably regret failing to throw in to assist at the time.(e) School disciplinary mechanisms should deal sharply with all incidents of bullying, imposing stern and escalating punishments including suspension and possible exclusion and involving parents at an early s tage. Moreover, the victims of bullying must be effectively protected in the process. there is anecdotal evidence to suggest that teachers sometimes prefer to deal with the complaints of one set of parents of a bullied child, rather than tackle four or tailfin sets of parents of the bullies themselves. This is an appalling state of affairs and one that must be brought to an end forthwith.(f) A peer mentoring system should be introduced nationwide, to offer the victims of bullying the opportunity to speak with respected erstwhile(a) children who have undergone training. Occasionally victims will be intimidated by the prospect of complaining to a teacher or even a parent. The other advantage of this suggested scheme is that peer mentors will typically have a better grasp of ground-level activities and politics within a school than the most well- informed teachers. A range of incentives could be offered for participation in this scheme, and volunteering might prove especially attrac tive to older students with one eye on character references for work and university.(g) A comprehensive national education and advertising campaign should be launched to back up these reforms. If sustained, such a campaign is capable of producing an attitudinal shift in society from one of publicly passive acquiescence to one of intolerance and proactive intervention. Thirty years ago car seatbelts were considered an annoyance at strap and an optional extra at best, however a concerted campaign shifted opinions to such an extent that for most people riding in a car without a seatbelt is now unthinkable just a multiplication later. macrocosm campaigns have proved equally successful in such fields as passive take and there is no causal agent why a properly funded and lengthy anti-bullying campaign could not uprise a similar seismic shift in our collective stance to the bodily function.Better coordination, clarified responsibilities, increased backupThis commentator would ma ke it a priority to bash heads together (ie. encourage better liaison and cooperation) among local authorities and key agencies to remedy the service that they collectively provide to children. At present too many children either fall through the cracks in the system or have pressing needs overlooked because the partitioning of responsibilities between different agencies and bodies is unclear, piecemeal and patchy. Perhaps the best and most infamous example of this problem is the appalling case of Victoria Climbie, the inquiry into which presented shocking findings suggesting poor communication and coordination between responsible agencies.Moreover the general scarceness of resources dictates that it is often difficult for agencies to extend themselves beyond their own traditional spheres of activity in cases which may merit such action. It should surely be a priority in any general programme of reform to support child welfare professionals, be they working in the social services , police, education or wellness services, in an effort to work together to a greater extent effectively, share randomness to identify difficulties and concerns, and provide the appropriate assistance more efficiently.To this end the creation of universal national database holding all information relevant to children and young people and the interests that concern them is recommended. It is time to exploit richly the exponentially growing power of technology in a style that is beneficial to children. A policy aimed at improved integration and raise cooperation must also entail measures to ensure better and clearer accountability for childrens services. For too long children have suffered from ambiguities in this crucial area. It is contended that concrete accountability in particular should perhaps be the ultimate aim of any proposed reform. Public and professional accountability is without doubt to best way guarantee manu occurrenceure in any office.This clutch of proposals mus t go hand in hand with concerted lobbying for more funds from Government. Quality costs that is something that every parent understands on an individual level in respect to the care of their own children and it is something that the community should be susceptible to accept on a collective basis for the nations young. It is submitted that such a funding priority should prove more popular with the electorate than almost any other drain on the public purse. In simple terms, it can lonesome(prenominal) be a vote winner for a Government kick up with criticism over funding of such endeavours as the Iraq War and it chimes with the overarching policy of comprehensive, all-inclusive care endorsed by the Beveridge report9 which founded the welfare state.Child Health and public assistanceIt is proposed that new policies are implemented to address specific problems that affect the health and well-being of the nations youth. While some apparent progress has been made in other sections of so ciety it is damning fact that smoking rates are actually on the increase among children, in particular girls.10 Approximately sixteen per cent of girls currently smoke, compared to around twelve per cent of boys.More than half of all children, male and female have consumed alcoholic beverage and a significant number are regular drinkers. Perhaps more startling is the fact that around seventeen per cent of children have maltreated solvents and a similar proportion have taken drugs, such as cannabis.Around twelve per cent of children claim to be sexually active or at least to have had sexual experience. Married to this statistic is the fact that the United Kingdom is top of the European league table for teenage pregnancy.Another concern for the health and well-being of the nations children is connect to dwindling participation rates in physical activity, both in and out of school hours, and to the point that standards of nutrition are negatively touch by the high and increasing co nsumption of convenience foods, fast foods, carbonate drinks and sweets. daughters have slightly healthier nutritional tastes than boys on average just sweets and sugary drinks are consumed at around twice the rate of sporting fruit and vegetables on a meal by meal basis.In isolation every one of the above statistics is a cause for serious concern. When viewed collectively it is submitted that these facts present a startling picture which demands immediate and concerted attention. If this commentator was to be appointed Childrens Commissioner a basket of policies would be recommended to improve the health and welfare of the nations children. Proposals would include restrictions on advertising, tax measures designed to reward (rather than punish as is the case today) whole dietary choices, and intemperately hitting campaigns educating about the risks of drug and substance abuse. It is big(a) to argue that the age for smoking should be increased above sixteen, given that a perso n can get married or draw together the army and fight and die for his or her country at that age. However, the change of cigarettes to minors should be more rigorously detected and punished and general measures to deter smoking in the adult population would reduce both the number of role models and exposure to passive smoke in the home and community. In terms of sexual health, a policy leaning past from permissive rights to emphasise more strongly responsibilities and risks would be advocated and a more open and accessible sexual education programme, such as that successfully employed at Scandinavian schools would be suggested.Concluding CommentsA society can be judged by the way in which it treats its most vulnerable citizens. The office of Childrens Commissioner carries the heavy burden of safeguarding and furthering the interests of the nations youth, which is the nations future, and as such it is a function that must be carried out with commitment, verve and vigour. It is sub mitted that the proposals set out in this short paper would, if implemented, attract popular support and therefore access to funding and improve the lot of children nationwide. Moreover, at first and indeed second sight it is hard to conceive of any cogent argument against the concerted pursuit of such objectives. As such these proposals merit serious consideration for prompt and whole-souled adoption.THE END WORD COUNT 2298 (excluding footnotes bullying was given particular emphasis as requested)BIBLIOGRAPHYEvery Child Matters, Department for Education and Skills (2003)Victoria Climbie, Inquiry Report, Lord Laming (2003)Report to Parliament on Social Insurance and confederative Services, (Cmd. 6404) London HMSO, 1942 ISBN 0108502767Bullied Girl Stabbed with Scissors http//www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-1868635,00.htmlSuicide ruling over bullied girls death, The Scotsman, 14 May 2005Survey of smoking, drinking and drug use among secondary school children, Office of National St atistics http//www.statistics.gov.uk/ssd/surveys/survey_smoking_drinking_drug_use_among_secondary_school_children.asp1Footnotes1 The Act received regal Assent on 15th November 2004.2 design http//www.literacytrust.org.uk/socialinclusion/youngpeople/greenpaper.html3 See http//www.victoria-climbie-inquiry.org.uk/finreport/summary-report.pdf.4 Although it is noted that there is a separate Commissioner for each national jurisdiction within the United Kingdom.5 The BBC television programme Newsround provides an online forum on bullying. http//news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/specials/bullying/default.stm.6 Bullied Girl Stabbed with Scissors http//www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-1868635,00.html.7 See Suicide ruling over bullied girls death, The Scotsman, 14 May 2005 and, inter alia http//www.tinotopia.com/log/archive/2002/03/26/bc_schoolgirl_bully_convicted.htm8 See http//www.spiked-online.com/Articles/0000000CA8E9.htm.9 Report to Parliament on Social Insurance and Allied Services, (Cmd. 6 404) London HMSO, 1942 ISBN 0108502767.10 See http//www.statistics.gov.uk/ssd/surveys/survey_smoking_drinking_drug_use_among_secondary_school_children.asp