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2. COMMON PRINCIPLES
We expect partners who have signed up to the common principles outlined in this paper to adopt and promote a range of common approaches in delivering services for young people. These include the Getting it right for every child approach, UNCRC and the principles of early intervention. In relation to delivering learning opportunities and experiences, the Curriculum for Excellence principles of curriculum design would apply.
The following existing common principles and values have relevance and value across delivery areas:
Getting it right for every child: values and principles
The Getting it right approach is underpinned by common values and principles which apply across all aspects of working with children and young people. A Guide to Getting it right for every child, published in September 2008, provides an overview of the approach and developments so far. It sets an expanded version of the following values and principles:
- Promoting the well-being of individual children and young people
- Keeping children and young people safe
- Putting the child at the centre
- Taking a whole child approach
- Building strengths and promoting resilience
- Promoting opportunities and valuing diversity
- Providing additional help should be appropriate, proportionate and timely
- Supporting informed choice
- Working in partnership with families
- Respecting confidentiality and sharing information
- Promoting the same values across working relationships
- Making the most of bringing together each worker's expertise
- Co-ordinating help
- Building a competent workforce to promote children and young people's well-being.
The Early Intervention Principles
The Early Intervention Principles set out in Early Years and Early Intervention: A joint Scottish Government and COSLA policy statement and now published in the Early Years Framework are relevant across delivery for young people. These provide a bridge between what the Scottish Government and local authorities want to achieve in terms of the Purpose, outcomes, indicators and targets and how they will achieve it through specific policies and actions. These principles are:
- Our ambitions are universal - we want to reduce inequalities in a variety of policy areas, to have the same outcomes for all and for all to have the same opportunities
- We take action to identify those at risk of not achieving these outcomes or having these opportunities and take action to prevent that risk materialising
- We make sustained and effective interventions in cases where these risks have materialised
- We shift the focus from service provision as the vehicle for delivery of outcomes to building the capacity of individuals, families and communities to secure outcomes. And to address the external barriers which they may face in seeking to maximise their life chances, making use of high quality accessible public services as required.
Curriculum for Excellence
The Principles of Curriculum Design set out in Building the Curriculum 3 are already in line with best youth work practice and have relevance for all learning providers supporting young people achieve the 4 capacities:
- Challenge and enjoyment
- Breadth
- Progression
- Depth
- Personalisation and choice
- Coherence
- Relevance
New Common Principles for delivering the 4 Capacities
In developing this paper, a set of common themes emerged from partners on what key principles should drive any work or services which support all young people to fulfil their potential. Therefore, we would suggest a set of common principles which can be adopted by any local or national partners and that bring together and integrate the principles of existing polices (as outlined in the previous section) within the context of delivering for young people.
On the basis of discussion and feedback from partners, the principles below have been agreed.
- It is our collective priority to support every young person achieve the
4 capacities, recognising that some will need early intervention measures or more intensive support to reach that goal.
We will work together to:
- deliver services that reflect the reality of young people's lives - supporting them through key life transitions, ensuring they are informed, and boosting their aspirations;
- work with local partners to address barriers and gaps - so that young people are not excluded from opportunities or have their capacity to achieve their potential limited;
- recognise and promote young people's positive contribution to their communities, and as national and global citizens; and
- involve young people at an early stage, along with the voluntary sector and other relevant partners, in developing services and opportunities in the context of community priorities.
The aim will be to promote these principles as the norm and embed them in how we all operate. For national partners, they can underpin policy developments and national delivery. For local partners, particularly those involved in Community Planning Partnerships, they can influence Single Outcome Agreements and local planning and provide a reference for local service delivery. And for young people, they should lead to better services which provide better value and improved long-term outcomes.
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