Children Have Rights

Hi all,

Part of the remit of being a foster carer is to have supervision with a Supervising Social Worker (SSW) every two weeks. Here's why:

There is a Welsh Assembly Government document called ‘The Seven Core Aims Wales’, this document was established using the aims guided by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). That’s the heavy stuff over with!

Children have rights...

• The right to have developed a flying start in life and the best possible basis for their future growth and development
• The right to have access to a comprehensive range of education, training and learning opportunities, including acquisition of essential personal and social skills
• The right to enjoy the best possible physical and mental, social and emotional health, including freedom from abuse, victimisation and exploitation
• The right to have access to play, leisure, sporting and cultural activities
• The right to be listened to, treated with respect, and are able to have their race and cultural identity recognised
• The right to have a safe home and a community that supports physical and emotional wellbeing
• The right to no to be disadvantaged by child poverty

As part of your fortnightly supervision, the SSW will ask you general questions that will cover all of the above. They have a knack of doing it without sounding as if they are ticking boxes and your daily diary recordings will reflect a lot of it without you realising. The aims are important to all children and young people. However, a high percentage of the children we support have not had...

• 'the best possible basis for their growth and development'
• 'access to a comprehensive range of education'
• 'the best possible physical, mental, social and emotional health, freedom from abuse'
• 'access to play'
• 'the right to be listened to'
• 'a safe home and community'
• 'not be disadvantaged by poverty'

That’s where a team of super heroes called ‘Foster Carers’ jump/fly or even walk to their nearest small but beautifully formed fostering agency (Calon Cymru!) and say ‘sign me up, let us help to put all of these ‘rights’ back into the lives of our young people’.

Are you a super hero? no? neither are we but we have a spare room and a kind heart... together we can make a difference.

Take Care

Daisy Doo and Julian too xx