Minutes:
The Panel noted the Council’s commitment to children, young people and their families to use straightforward and family friendly language as outlined in the ‘Language That Cares’ document. The Panel formed groups to discuss words and phrases that may have negative connotations, including ‘intervention’, ‘challenging behaviour’ and ‘placement’.
Members observed that ‘intervention’ implies an action that is being forced upon a person. Officers commented that ‘intervention’ is often used in education settings, to describe additional support provided and the Head of the Virtual School suggested practitioners should be encouraged to use the word ‘support’ as an alternative, where appropriate.
The Panel commented that the term ‘challenging behaviour’ implies both parties in the interaction are finding the situation difficult and it may be the case that professionals dealing with young people who they describe as having ‘challenging behaviour’ may need additional training. Officers explained that in some cases, a young person’s behaviour is their language, for example, when a young person is distressed or confused, they may display this through their behaviour as in some situations it can be the only way they can communicate their feelings. In a similar way, a young person who refuses to engage or is unable to engage at all may also be described as ‘challenging’. The Panel noted that ‘challenge’ can often lead to positive change such as the challenge provided by the Children in Care Council.
The Panel discussed the term ‘moving placement’, commenting that it was impersonal, implying the subject is an object rather than a person. Luke referred to all the hard work done by practitioners with regard to matching profiles to find young people their perfect home and he expressed the view that using the term ‘moving placement’ did not do the process justice. Billie-Leigh added that for her, the phrase ‘moving placement’ conjured up an image of being part of a production line.
The Panel recognised that in some contexts professional terms are appropriate and expected, however children and young people must be provided with information that they can understand and relate to and the ‘Language That Cares’ document is vital to the work.