Young People In Decision Research Articles

Participation in practice in child welfare: processes, benefits and challenges

ABSTRACT Internationally, there has been a significant focus in policy and practice on the participation of children and young people in decisions that affect them, underpinned by respect for their rights under Article 12 of the UNCRC. While children’s participation has become a core focus for practice improvement in child welfare services, there is a dearth of practical examples of how participation is implemented in organisations. In this paper, we provide a reflective case study of participation in practice in the Youth Advocate Programme (YAP) in Ireland, a large non-profit child welfare organisation. YAP Ireland works with young people who are considered ‘high risk’ using a strength-based approach in a wraparound service that is family-driven and youth-guided. Drawing on qualitative interviews and focus groups with young people, parents, advocates, and staff and management, we describe and critically analyse YAP’s approach to participation. Critical factors in practice include a commitment to participation in policy, practice and culture at all levels of the organisation and scaffolding of participation by staff. Challenges include ensuring that participation principles are upheld consistently across the organisation and resourcing participation.

The Problematisation of Young People Within Existing Housing-Related Policy in Queensland

AbstractMore young people are experiencing homelessness and housing stress in Australia than ever before, with policy responses failing to address a current housing and cost-of-living crisis. Of particular concern when considering increasing rates of youth homelessness and housing stress is the absence of research examining existing policy. This research was undertaken in the Australian state of Queensland and contributes to addressing this gap in knowledge by utilising Carol Bacchi’s (2009) ‘What’s the Problem Represented to be?’ approach to policy analysis to examine three state policies, namely Towards Ending Homelessness for Young Queenslanders 2022–2027, the Queensland Housing Strategy 2017–2027, and the Queensland Youth Strategy. A range of discourses were found which position young people as lacking knowledge and skills to obtain housing. Emphasis is also placed on education, training, and employment as solutions to youth housing issues rather than a genuine focus on empowering young people through policy and practice initiatives. The findings of this research mirror existing discourses found in global conversations about youth homelessness and housing stress and contribute to a growing knowledge base around the importance of engaging young people in decision making within public policy and social reform.

Beyond Tokenism: The “Born Frees” and Climate Change in South Africa

Climate change and youth participation are emerging as important clarion calls today. Indeed, very few individuals will possibly counter a call for the involvement of young people in decisions and actions which (in)directly affect their lives. Presently, some of the greatest social problems faced by young South Africans are COVID-19, employment, and climate change. These challenges require the active participation of young people—locally known as the “born frees”—in the construction and operationalization of interventions, especially in light of the insufficient (sub)national response. That being said, policymakers often adopt top-down over bottom-up approaches, with the young generation often excluded or at best given a tokenistic role in climate decision-making processes. Therefore, this paper suggests some new ways of conceptualizing youth agency and brings to light how the born frees could efficiently take part or have a say in negotiating the path to climate adaptation, resilience, and mitigation. By drawing from the existing literature, the paper concludes that effective engagement with youth is essential in empowering them to key stakeholders or partners in adapting and/or mitigating climate change.

Insights and recommendations for involving young people in decision making for the marine environment

There is a growing movement to involve young people in decision making for the marine environment, with a wider trend towards public participation and greater accountability of environmental governance. Young people will inherit the consequences of decisions made today. In this paper, the authors provide an initial exploration of young people’s views, awareness and participation (current and potential) in decisions and strategies for the marine environment, using Scotland as a case study. These discussions are based on the results of a survey of young people (aged 11–26) in Scotland, appraising levels of understanding and engagement with marine issues and exploring barriers to and opportunities for improved participation. This is set in the context of (a) the growth of local, national and global platforms for young people to express their views, and (b) the aspiration of many governments to empower the public, communities and young people in public decision making and marine stewardship. Education and ocean-literacy initiatives have a role to play, but there is also an aspiration for engagement mechanisms that accelerate a more fundamental rebalancing in public process to safeguard environmental integrity (and therefore economic and social well-being) for future generations. The authors conclude that marine planning, specifically the development of regional marine plans in Scotland, can provide a mechanism to integrate young people’s views and needs into marine decision making.

Educational Experiences of Care Leavers from Residential Care in Ghana

The study aims to explore the experiences of Ghanaian care leavers to discern the factors that promote and impede their educational attainment. Data was collected from 23 care leavers using semi-structured interviews. The interviews were then analyzed using the framework method. The findings suggest that the personal motivation of the care leavers and encouragement from significant adults and peers facilitated their academic success. However, the participants identified stigma, lack of academic support, and the inability to participate in decisions as barriers to their education. Recommendations include training residential care staff to enable them to facilitate the participation of young people in decisions about their education, encouraging and supporting young people in care to aspire for higher education, and developing plans to guide their educational progress.

Four arenas of school-based participation: towards a heuristic for children’s rights-informed educational practice

ABSTRACT There has been a long-standing call for the participation of young people in decision making in school. However, research to date has mostly focused on pupil councils and is rarely conducted in areas of socio-economic deprivation – the contexts for this study. In national examinations, the schools chosen had higher than average attainments given their catchments. The research sought to understand if and how young people would make a link between their participation rights and ‘doing well’ at school. Using mobile and visual methods, a situated, social-material approach was taken to data collection and analysis. We found participation opportunities were supportive in four arenas: formal curriculum, wider curriculum, decision making groups, and connections with the wider community. This framing provides a heuristic for rights-based participation in educational practice.

Recording of Children and Young People’s Views in Contact Decision-Making

Abstract Children and young people have a right for their views to be heard and considered in decisions affecting their welfare. Fulfilment of this right may be evidenced through views being represented in documents related to the decision. This article reports findings of a study which examined the records of 160 children who were looked after in Scotland from 2013 to 2017. This included 1,200 individual Hearings, which made a total of 2,003 contact decisions. Data on contact decisions, views, and recommendations were extracted and analysed. Clear wishes of children are recorded in relation to just 12 per cent of contact decisions, and there is no recording of views in 64 per cent of contact decisions. Where the child is aged over twelve years, these figures rise to clear views being recorded in 22 per cent of contact decisions, with no recording of views in 42 per cent of contact decisions. These findings are concerning in relation to the value placed on the views of children and young people in decisions affecting their lives. There are implications for the information available to decision makers, social work practice and for policy and research relating to engagement and participation of children and young people in decisions affecting their lives.

Challenging dominant notions of participation and protection through a co-led disabled young researcher study

PurposeIn the UK, the Children and Families Act aims to create one assessment process for children with special educational needs or disability, through Education, Health and Care Plans. It also aims for greater participation from children and young people in decisions about their own lives. Current evidence suggests that children’s needs and desires across education, health and social care are not being fully met, partly because adult agendas drive policy, practice and standards of care. Furthermore, little attention is paid to the way in which disabled children and young people are included either within decisions about their own support or within research processes. The purpose of this paper is to present a research process designed to address these issues.Design/methodology/approachSix disabled young people co-led this participatory research project; for the first time, disabled young people had the opportunity to define a research agenda which spoke to what “quality” might look like in planning for their own future and that of other disabled children and young people.FindingsThis paper presents findings from this process, addressing important ethical issues relevant for policy, practice and research, identified through this rights based, collaborative way of working in partnership. Three key issues were identified and are explored here. They include first, tensions between young people becoming leaders and dominant ideas about safeguarding and child protection; second, being empowered through engagement within the project yet restricted in other areas of personal life and, finally, the emotional impact on new researchers of gathering evidence of a continuing lack of autonomy for disabled children and young people. We argue that challenging dominant notions concerning the participation and protection of disabled children is required in order to ensure that they access their right to be decision-makers in their own lives, and to being empowered within research processes.Originality/valueThis is the first disabled young people-led study to investigate quality and rights for disabled children and young people using this rights-based methodology.

Web-Based Decision Aid to Assist Help-Seeking Choices for Young People Who Self-Harm: Outcomes From a Randomized Controlled Feasibility Trial.

BackgroundAdolescents who self-harm are often unsure how or where to get help. We developed a Web-based personalized decision aid (DA) designed to support young people in decision making about seeking help for their self-harm.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of the DA intervention and the randomized controlled trial (RCT) in a school setting.MethodsWe conducted a two-group, single blind, randomized controlled feasibility trial in a school setting. Participants aged 12 to 18 years who reported self-harm in the past 12 months were randomized to either a Web-based DA or to general information about mood and feelings. Feasibility of recruitment, randomization, and follow-up rates were assessed, as was acceptability of the intervention and study procedures. Descriptive data were collected on outcome measures examining decision making and help-seeking behavior. Qualitative interviews were conducted with young people, parents or carers, and staff and subjected to thematic analysis to explore their views of the DA and study processes.ResultsParental consent was a significant barrier to young people participating in the trial, with only 17.87% (208/1164) of parents or guardians who were contacted for consent responding to study invitations. Where parental consent was obtained, we were able to recruit 81.7% (170/208) of young people into the study. Of those young people screened, 13.5% (23/170) had self-harmed in the past year. Ten participants were randomized to receiving the DA, and 13 were randomized to the control group. Four-week follow-up assessments were completed with all participants. The DA had good acceptability, but qualitative interviews suggested that a DA that addressed broader mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, and self-harm may be more beneficial.ConclusionsA broad-based mental health DA addressing a wide range of psychosocial problems may be useful for young people. The requirement for parental consent is a key barrier to intervention research on self-harm in the school setting. Adaptations to the research design and the intervention are needed before generalizable research about DAs can be successfully conducted in a school setting.Trial RegistrationInternational Standard Randomized Controlled Trial registry: ISRCTN11230559; http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN11230559 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6wqErsYWG)

The development of a Critical Incident Student Team

As a response to the work I have done in the field of critical incidents in relation to young people, this paper begins with a brief discussion of resilience and the involvement of young people in decision making, particularly in this field of practice. This is followed by an overview of the ongoing development of a Critical Incident Student Team within Wanganui Collegiate. Young people’s views and opinions are integral to its functioning and as such their opinions are regularly, and often informally, gathered, analysed and acted upon. The third section is an evaluation of a formal exercise.This paper explores the development of a Critical Incident Student Team at Wanganui Collegiate in New Zealand. This school is an independent co-educational secondary school with students being aged between 12 and 18 years. There are approximately 500 students: two-thirds are boarders, two-thirds are boys and 10 percent are international students. There is a philosophy of student involvement within the school so that they are represented in a number of decision-making areas such as the Peer Support Team and the Dining Hall Committee as well as the Critical Incident Team. This is based on a belief that what the students have to offer is worth listening to, and acting upon.

Educational psychologists’ perspectives on the medicalisation of childhood behaviour: A focus on Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD)

Aim:This study explores the views of Educational Psychologists (EPs) practising in the UK regarding the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).Method:An online survey collected from 136 EPs, representing 70 local authorities across the UK.Findings:Responses highlighted how currently EPs are rarely engaged in the assessment of ADHD. However, the data indicated that EPs play an important role in increasing the awareness of contextual factors in children’s behaviour, and are well placed to support the development of individually tailored interventions. It was identified that in many local authorities, current diagnostic practices do not conform to government guidelines regarding both access to psychological interventions and the prescription of medication to pre-school children. Furthermore, few children were involved in decision making about their treatment. Where Local Authorities have developed standardised pathways or protocols governing the diagnostic process, EPs are involved in the assessment process and children are more likely to access psychological interventions, and for contextual factors to be taken into account.Limitations:Consistent with the research aims the study focuses exclusively on EP perspectives. As a survey it was not possible to probe for meaning or clarification of issues that emerged. There is a need for further research into successful examples of ADHD treatment pathways that take advantage of the unique contribution of EPs.Conclusions:Priorities for future work include the need to develop a nationally agreed protocol for a multi-professional approach to assessment and treatment of ADHD. There is an urgent need for careful monitoring of prescription rates, particularly in pre-school children and across different ethnic and social groups. Furthermore, steps should be taken to address the lack of participation by children and young people in decisions about their treatment.

Involving young people in decision making about sequential cochlear implantation

BackgroundThe National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidelines recommended young people who currently have one cochlear implant be offered assessment for a second, sequential implant, due to the reported improvements in sound localization and speech perception in noise. The possibility and benefits of group information and counselling assessments were considered. Previous research has shown advantages of group sessions involving young people and their families and such groups which also allow young people opportunity to discuss their concerns separately to their parents/guardians are found to be ‘hugely important’. Such research highlights the importance of involving children in decision-making processes.MethodsFamilies considering a sequential cochlear implant were invited to a group information/counselling session, which included time for parents and children to meet separately. Fourteen groups were held with approximately four to five families in each session, totalling 62 patients. The sessions were facilitated by the multi-disciplinary team, with a particular psychological focus in the young people's session.ResultsFeedback from families has demonstrated positive support for this format. Questionnaire feedback, to which nine families responded, indicated that seven preferred the group session to an individual session and all approved of separate groups for the child and parents/guardians.Conclusion/discussionOverall the group format and psychological focus were well received in this typically surgical setting and emphasized the importance of involving the young person in the decision-making process. This positive feedback also opens up the opportunity to use a group format in other assessment processes.

Perspectives From Young People about Family Contact in Kinship Care: “Don't Push Us—Listen More”

Kinship care for children as a child protection response is increasing as the preferred care option across the English-speaking world. Research into kinship care is at an early stage, particularly in relation to understanding the views of children, young people and their parents. This paper describes a component of a larger research project on the topic of family contact in kinship care, which was undertaken to inform emerging kinship care support services in Victoria. Twenty-one children, young people and young adults with childhood experience of kinship care were involved in interviews and focus groups to discuss their experiences and advice for workers. The participants indicated their strong wish for greater control over the nature and extent of their contact with family members, including the wider family. Issues in relation to participation of children in the research process are discussed, including ethics, constraints and reciprocity. Participants’ feedback reinforces the call for more genuine involvement of children and young people in decisions about their lives.

Preparation for Young People Leaving Care: The Case of SOS Children's Village, Ghana

A growing concern for child welfare is how preparation for adulthood programmes can be strengthened to more effectively meet the needs of youth in out-of-home care. There is a gap in our knowledge about how young adults in out-of-home care in Africa are prepared for their transition to adulthood. The present study adds to the current body of research on the subject by exploring the preparation for adulthood experiences of young Ghanaian care-leavers with a particular focus on sources, needs and barriers to preparation for leaving care. Interviews were conducted with 27 young adults who had exited the SOS children's village in Tema, Ghana and were analysed using the framework approach. The key findings of the study were that young adults used a variety of sources in preparing for adulthood, which included the SOS mother, the youth facilities and the boarding house. The youth identified a number of deficits in their preparation for leaving care including finance, accommodation and cultural skills. They also identified a number of barriers to their preparation including the lack of support and guidance and a lack of input into decisions regarding their future. Recommendations for improving the practice of independent living preparation are proposed. These recommendations include formally involving care-givers in the preparation process and including young people in decisions relating to their preparation.

The voice of the adolescent

<h3>Aims</h3> To compare the practice of paediatricians in hospital and outpatient settings with standards taken from Working Together 2010 and the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child to establish whether adolescent patients in the UK are being included, involved and allowed to participate in their healthcare. <h3>Methods</h3> A retrospective review of the clinical notes and clinic letters of ninety adolescent patients aged 12-18 years was carried out by two researchers. 30 were inpatients, 30 were new referrals to outpatients and 30 had chronic medical conditions. The following questions were then applied: Has the young person been seen and spoken to? Was the young person seen alone? Have the wishes and feelings of the young person been recorded? Has the young person had sufficient opportunity to communicate any concerns they may have? Have results from investigations been shared with the young person? Have their views regarding management been recorded? <h3>Results</h3> The majority of the young people in all 3 groups were seen and spoken to. On the paediatric ward and amongst the chronic outpatients, in all other areas investigated, no more than 30% of the young people had their voice heard. Amongst the new outpatients, approximately 70% of the young people had their voice heard in several areas – their wishes/feelings were recorded, they had the opportunity to communicate concerns and the results of investigations were shared appropriately. <h3>Conclusion</h3> Evidence suggests that involving children and young people in decision making improves their outcomes. This study has shown that paediatric services have significant room for improvement in hearing ‘the voice of the adolescent’ and are falling short of standards taken from Working Together 2010 and the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child. Young people are rarely being seen alone by paediatricians and their feelings and concerns are not being ascertained often enough. Paediatricians need to be reminded of the importance of including, involving and allowing young people to participate in decisions about their health care. ‘No decision about me without me’ should be central to adolescent health.

Councils, consultations and community: rethinking the spaces for children and young people's participation1

The participation of children and young people in decisions that affect them is now mainstream in social and public policy in the UK. Yet for many young people formal participation opportunities are abstracted from everyday lives and concerns. Children may not feel empowered despite the existence of formal structures for participation. This raises questions about how ‘spaces’ for participation are constructed. This paper critiques prevailing models of participation in formal structures and instead, argues for the need to rethink children's participation as a more diverse set of social processes rooted in everyday environments and interactions.

Involving young people in decisions about medicines

Ask About Medicines Week is 5–9 November 2007 and a campaign called ‘asking about medicines as we grow up’ is being aimed at children and young people. The school nurse has an important role to play in aiding young people to take responsibility for their own medicines.

My life in care: experiences of non‐participation in decision‐making processes

ABSTRACTThe extent to which young people are involved in legal decision‐making depends on assumptions and perceptions about their ability to participate in decision‐making in general. This paper draws on research with four young people, looking at their experiences of involvement in a variety of decision‐making processes whilst in the care of the local authority. Through narratives, games and other activities, the thoughts and emotions of the four young people are explored, identifying the development of feelings of helplessness, low self‐esteem and poor confidence that have followed the lack of opportunities made available to them to make decisions about their own lives. The efficacy and tension of corporate parenting is also explored with suggestions from the participants on how the care system could be constructed differently to facilitate their voice and that of much younger children than themselves. Thus, the debate becomes one of adult ability and preparedness to involve young people in decisions about their own lives, rather than whether they are able to participate effectively.

User involvement – not just a box to be ticked

Over the last decade there has been an increased emphasis on the involvement and participation of patients, including children and young people, in the decision-making process about healthcare issues affecting them. This has resulted in a plethora of user consultations, audits and research projects. Involving children and young people in decisions about service provision is something we wholeheartedly support. However, we feel a cautionary note needs sounding and that several issues need consideration.

The participation of children and young people in decisions about UK service development

The involvement of children and young people in decisions regarding service development is well supported in government policy and underpinned by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Information on the extent, nature and outcomes of children and young people's participation can inform further development in this area. Systematic literature searches, plus contact with professional networks, were used to gather and review evidence on children and young people's participation. There is a rapidly developing body of information describing and analysing innovative practices in this field. However, there is also a smaller, but substantial, amount of evidence demonstrating the limited extent of current involvement. A good deal of guidance is now available about how to promote the involvement of children and young people. However, the basis of this advice is not always clear, and more evidence about children's views and their experience of participation in public decision-making is required. Issues identified as barriers to change included adult attitudes and intransigence, lack of training for key adults, lack of clarity leading to tokenism, the nature of organizations (i.e. their formality, complexity, bureaucracy and internal politics) and the short-term nature of much funding. The evidence suggests that good practice includes a listening culture among staff, clarity, flexibility, adequate resources, skills development and training for staff and participating children and young people, inclusion of marginalized groups, feedback and evaluation. There is only limited evidence that children and young people's involvement in public decision-making leads to more appropriate services, although there is evidence that participating children and young people benefit in terms of personal development and that staff and organizations learn more about their views. The value of the participation of children and young people in public decision-making is now well accepted, and is recognized in the standards set in the Children's National Service Framework. However, there is an urgent need for internal and external evaluations of children's involvement.