Assist young people to recognise, realise and defend their rights
Overview
Facilitating and empowering the voice of young people is one of the values which youth workers are expected to know about and apply in their practice.
This standard introduces young people to internationally recognised rights treaties for children and young people and includes working with young people to promote and embed their rights within youth work activities, and other areas of their lives. You will use advocacy models and techniques to assist young people to do this. The standard makes reference to specific groups of young people who may have access to additional rights and protections, such as refugees, care experienced young people, and young people with disabilities.
This standard is suitable for all youth work practitioners.
Performance criteria
You must be able to:
- use a rights-based approach when working with young people
- assist young people to adopt techniques that will help them to express their views and opinions
- provide young people with suggestions regarding how to present their ideas to others taking account of their rights and those of others
- advocate with, and on behalf of, young people with peers, colleagues and other stakeholders
- take action to challenge instances of oppression and discrimination amongst and against young people within the boundaries of your role
- carry out your role in accordance with relevant guidelines and codes of practice regarding the rights of young people
- meet the values and principles underpinning youth work in relation to the requirements of this standard
Knowledge and Understanding
You need to know and understand:
- legal, regulatory and codes of practice requirements addressing the rights of children and young people including their local, social and political context
- the powers and duties of Children and Young People's Commissioners in each of their respective devolved nations.
- key national organisations and local agencies responsible for setting out and monitoring the rights of children and young people
- the importance of taking into account the views of others in relation to upholding the rights of young people
- your organisation's procedures requiring you to be aware of and challenge oppression and discrimination
- advocacy models and techniques
- principles of effective communication and how to apply these to communicate effectively with young people, other agencies and stakeholders
- the values and principles underpinning youth work in relation to the requirements of this standard