Systems
Indicators
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4.1 - Policies are in place to make sure children and young people’s participation is safe, sound and effective, covering consent, protection, safety, access, transport, complaints, incentives and rewards
4.2 - Budgeting and financial systems are in place for supporting the active involvement of children and young people
4.3 - Recording and evaluation systems are in place to identify and share learning and evidence of change arising from children and young people’s participation
4.4 - Communication systems are in place for recording, reporting and celebrating children and young people's active involvement (for example, newsletters, web, radio, articles, awards evenings)
4.5 - Children and young people and partners are involved in reviewing and updating relevant policies and systems
4.6 - Children and young people help decide appropriate rewards for their active involvement and / or have direct control over identified budgets
4.7 - Systems, such as compacts and agreements with partner organisations, reflect the commitment to active involvement
Things to think about...questions to ask...
- What systems and procedures are needed to make sure participation is conducted in a safe and sound manner?
- Are they in place and shared and reviewed with children and young people and partner organisations?
- How are inclusive practices and policies promoted, for example on refreshments, venue, communication and timing of meetings?
- How is involvement acknowledged and rewarded?
- Can you prove the impact of children and young people's participation on decision-making and on the services they use?
- What review and evaluation systems are there? For example, are you using Hear by Right’s tools for recording what’s changing for the organisation and what’s changed for children and young people as endorsed by children and young people themselves?
- Have you shared your learning and evidence of change, for example on www.nya.org.uk/hearbyright?
Evidence (paper, verbal, observation)...
- Records of consultations with children and young people in developing policy and procedures, including those about access
- Policy on remuneration known by children and young people
- Identifying specific spend on active involvement
- Protected budgets for children and young people themselves
- Published suggestions, compliments, complaints and appeals procedures for children and young people
- Examples of what's changed, with evidence from children and young people themselves
- Feedback from different interest groups
- Celebration of successes and appropriate accreditation
- What do children and young people say about how this standard is being met? What are their priorities?
Commentary
Setting up structures for children and young people’s involvement is in some sense the easier task. Challenging established adult systems and ways of working, power and attitudes may be harder to tackle. Yet, if we don’t, progress will be short lived and attempts at active involvement will be ineffectual, frustrating and damaging. Systems are needed to support and sustain activity and record outcomes. Organisations may want to involve children and young people at short notice. But care should always be taken to consider the impact on them and to ensure practice is safe and sound, thinking through children and young people’s consent, safety, access, rewards for involvement and support needs.