1.3 Explain how individuals and agencies support children and young people to make positive changes in their lives

This guide will help you answer 1.3 Explain how individuals and agencies support children and young people to make positive changes in their lives.

Supporting children and young people to make positive changes in their lives involves input from both individuals and different agencies. Positive changes can mean improvements in health, education, behaviour, relationships, confidence, and emotional wellbeing. For change to be successful, the support must meet the specific needs of the child or young person and be consistent over time.

Role of Individuals

Individuals are people who support children and young people directly or indirectly. They can be family members, carers, teachers, youth workers, social workers, counsellors, health professionals, and friends. Each plays a part in helping the child or young person make changes in their life.

Family Members and Carers

Family members and carers often have the closest daily contact with the child. They can:

• Give emotional encouragement and reassurance
• Provide a stable and consistent environment
• Support the child to attend school or take part in activities
• Model positive behaviour and attitudes
• Encourage healthy lifestyle choices such as good nutrition and exercise

These actions help the child see change as achievable and worth pursuing.

Teachers and Education Staff

Teachers and school support staff help by:

• Recognising learning needs and creating accessible lessons
• Encouraging participation in classes and school activities
• Providing mentoring and guidance
• Giving constructive feedback that promotes self-belief
• Linking with other services if extra help is required

Teachers often notice early signs that a child is struggling and can act quickly to find help.

Youth Workers

Youth workers offer informal education and organised activities outside school. They can:

• Build trusting relationships with young people
• Provide safe spaces for personal growth
• Help young people develop social skills and problem-solving skills
• Guide them away from risky behaviour and towards positive choices

Health Professionals

Doctors, nurses, and mental health workers support change by:

• Managing physical health conditions
• Providing treatment for mental health needs such as anxiety or depression
• Offering advice on healthy lifestyles
• Linking children and families with specialist services

Medical professionals can be key to helping a child recover from illness or cope with ongoing conditions.

Social Workers

Social workers support children and young people whose welfare might be at risk. They:

• Work with the child or young person to identify problems and possible solutions
• Advocate for them in meetings and care planning
• Ensure they have access to safe housing, education, and healthcare
• Monitor progress and adjust support plans as needed

Role of Agencies

Agencies are organisations that deliver structured support services. They often work together with individuals to meet a wide range of needs.

Education Services

Local authorities provide services such as:

• Special educational needs support teams
• Behaviour and attendance panels
• Alternative schooling for children who cannot attend mainstream education
• Careers advice and training opportunities for older young people

These services can help a child achieve better learning outcomes and prepare for adult life.

Health Services

National Health Service (NHS) agencies may offer:

• Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)
• Speech and language therapy
• Occupational therapy
• Physiotherapy for physical rehabilitation
• Specialist clinics for long-term health needs

Health agencies focus on improving physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing.

Social Care Services

Local authority social care teams often work with children in care or at risk. They might provide:

• Foster care placements
• Residential care settings
• Short break care for families under stress
• Family support workers to help with parenting skills

These services aim to keep children safe and improve their quality of life.

Youth Offending Teams

Youth Offending Teams work with young people involved with the criminal justice system. They:

• Provide programmes to reduce re-offending
• Offer education and training opportunities
• Help with emotional support and problem solving
• Support reintegration into community life

Voluntary and Community Organisations

Charities and community groups often provide services such as:

• Mentoring schemes
• After-school clubs and holiday activities
• Counselling and peer support groups
• Drop-in centres for advice and help

These organisations can be flexible and responsive to local needs.

Joint Working Between Individuals and Agencies

Positive change often needs input from several sources. Multi-agency working means different services coordinate support around the child. This can be managed through formal meetings, shared plans, and clear communication.

Joint working benefits the child by:

• Reducing gaps in help
• Avoiding duplication of effort
• Making sure all needs are covered
• Giving the child and family a clear plan

An example might be a school referring a pupil with high absence to both a health service and a family support worker. The health service assesses for health issues while the family worker helps the parents with routines and school engagement.

Encouraging Participation and Choice

Support works best when the child or young person is actively involved. They need to know what is happening and feel they have a say in decisions that affect them.

Ways to promote participation:

• Listening to what they want and need
• Offering choices where possible
• Using clear and simple language to explain plans
• Encouraging small steps towards larger changes
• Celebrating progress to build confidence

Participation helps the child feel respected and more motivated to keep working towards goals.

Building Trust

Trust is central to support. Without it, a child may not share concerns or accept help. Individuals and agencies can build trust by:

• Being reliable and consistent
• Keeping promises and commitments
• Respecting confidentiality
• Showing genuine care and interest
• Avoiding judgement or criticism during discussions

Trust takes time but is key to long-term change.

Removing Barriers to Change

Children and young people may face obstacles that make change difficult. Support must address these barriers.

Common barriers include:

• Fear of failure
• Negative peer influences
• Poor family relationships
• Mental health problems
• Lack of resources like safe housing or transport

Agencies and individuals work to reduce these barriers, for example by providing counselling, safe spaces, financial support, or educational resources.

Monitoring Progress

Monitoring allows supporters to see if changes are happening and if extra help is needed. This may involve:

• Regular meetings with the child or young person
• Reports from schools or health providers
• Updated care or support plans
• Feedback from family members or carers

Effective monitoring keeps change on track and adjusts support quickly if problems arise.

Examples of Positive Changes Supported by Individuals and Agencies

Positive change might involve:

• Improving school attendance and performance
• Reducing risky behaviour like substance misuse
• Strengthening family relationships
• Developing new skills and interests
• Increasing self-confidence and resilience

Each change often needs more than one type of support. For example, reducing substance misuse could involve health services for treatment, youth workers for safe activities, and family support for home life stability.

Final Thoughts

Supporting children and young people to make positive changes is a shared responsibility. Individuals offer direct, personal support and encouragement. Agencies bring structured services, expertise, and resources. When both work together, they create a stronger network around the child or young person.

Collaboration, trust, and active participation from the child are at the heart of lasting change. Each positive step builds the foundation for a better future, helping them grow into healthy, confident, and capable adults.