1.2 Describe the impact of social care standards and codes of practice on work with children and young people

This guide will help you answer 1.2 Describe the impact of social care standards and codes of practice on work with children and young people.

Social care standards and codes of practice are official expectations and guidelines set by professional bodies, regulators, and government agencies. They give clear rules on how workers should act and perform their duties when working with children and young people. These rules are not only about legal compliance. They aim to improve safety, wellbeing, and outcomes for every child and young person in care or support services.

In the UK, codes of practice and standards cover areas such as safeguarding, communication, duty of care, equality, and confidentiality. Workers must understand and apply them in daily tasks. These standards and codes influence every decision made and every action taken with children and young people.

Legal Framework

Many standards and codes of practice are backed by law. Examples include the Children Act 1989 and 2004, the Children and Families Act 2014, and the Working Together to Safeguard Children statutory guidance. If a worker fails to meet these, it can result in legal action, investigation, or disciplinary measures.

Workers are expected to know the law that affects their role. This might include rules about child protection, health and safety, and information handling under the Data Protection Act 2018. Understanding the legal background helps workers recognise why these standards exist and how following them protects both the child and themselves as a worker.

Consistency in Care

Standards and codes of practice make care consistent. Without them, care could vary greatly depending on who is working or where the service is delivered. Consistency helps children feel safe and understand what to expect. It builds trust between the child or young person and the adults supporting them.

Examples of how consistency is achieved:

• Clear routines and boundaries
• Predictable responses to behaviour
• Standard procedures for reporting concerns
• Agreed methods for recording information

Safeguarding and Child Protection

Safeguarding standards require workers to act when they have concerns about a child’s safety or wellbeing. Codes of practice often provide step-by-step processes for reporting concerns, documenting evidence, and liaising with safeguarding leads or social workers.

The impact on work is direct:

• Workers must be alert to signs of harm or neglect
• They must always act promptly to protect a child at risk
• Decisions are guided by clear reporting pathways
• Confidential information is shared only with those who need to know to protect the child

These standards build a shared responsibility across the workforce.

Promoting Equality and Inclusion

Standards such as the Equality Act 2010 set out duties to treat everyone fairly and without discrimination. Codes of practice require all staff to support diversity and prevent prejudice. This means adapting care to meet individual needs, respecting cultural backgrounds, and ensuring no child is disadvantaged because of disability, ethnicity, religion, or family situation.

Impact on practice:

• Workers adapt communication styles to meet individual needs
• Activities are planned to include everyone
• Policies protect against bullying and discriminatory behaviour
• Staff challenge discrimination if it occurs

Professional Accountability

Codes of practice outline the responsibilities of workers as professionals. They remind staff that they must take ownership of their actions and decisions. The General Social Care Council code (now part of the Health and Care Professions Council guidance) sets standards for conduct, performance, and ethics.

This means that in daily work:

• Workers reflect on their own behaviour
• They accept responsibility for mistakes and work to put them right
• They follow instructions and organisational guidance
• They maintain honesty and integrity in all dealings

Communication Standards

Clear communication is covered in many codes of practice. Workers are expected to speak and write in ways that are respectful, accurate, and suitable for children’s understanding. This has a lasting impact. Poor communication can create confusion or fear. Good communication builds relationships, encourages engagement, and supports learning.

In practice:

• Use language the child can understand
• Be patient and listen actively
• Record information in plain English with no jargon
• Share important information promptly with relevant people

Confidentiality

Most codes of practice include rules on confidentiality. Workers must protect personal details and sensitive matters relating to children and young people. This means they cannot share such information with others unless it is needed for safeguarding or required by law.

Impact on work:

• Records are stored securely
• Access to files is limited to authorised staff
• Workers discuss cases only in suitable settings
• Children and families are informed when information will be shared

Health and Safety

Health and safety standards, guided by UK legislation such as the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, make sure environments are safe for children and young people. These standards require risk assessments, safe equipment checks, and training in emergency procedures.

Impact on work:

• Regular safety inspections
• Training in first aid
• Safe storage of hazardous substances
• Clear evacuation plans

Following these affects daily routines, from checking playground equipment to supervising activities in a way that reduces risks.

Record Keeping

Good record keeping is a requirement in most standards. Codes of practice instruct workers to keep accurate and timely records. These can include incident reports, care plans, and communication logs. Records are legal documents. They can be used in investigations or court cases.

Impact on practice:

• Time must be set aside daily or weekly for records
• Information must be factual and free from opinion unless relevant and clearly marked
• Records must be signed and dated
• Workers must respect data protection rules in storage and sharing

Training and Continuing Development

Many standards require workers to keep their skills and knowledge up to date. Codes of practice may state that regular training is mandatory. This impacts work by making learning part of the job rather than a one-off event.

Examples:

• Annual child protection training
• Regular health and safety refreshers
• Updates on changes in legislation
• Opportunities for staff to share best practice with colleagues

Working in Partnership

Codes of practice often say that workers should collaborate with colleagues, families, and other agencies. Partnership working strengthens support for the child as different professionals can share knowledge and coordinate their efforts.

Impact:

• Workers must communicate effectively with others involved
• Meetings and case conferences become part of routine work
• Information sharing happens within clear guidelines
• Staff need to respect the role of other professionals

Respecting the Rights of the Child

Standards and codes are influenced by international agreements like the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). These rights include protection from harm, the right to be heard, and access to education. Workers must make sure their practice respects these rights every day.

Impact:

• Listening more to children’s views
• Involving children in decisions about their care
• Challenging anything that breaches their rights
• Making services child-friendly and inclusive

Managing Behaviour

Codes of practice set rules for behaviour management. This often means using positive discipline strategies rather than punitive methods. Workers are guided to use praise, clear boundaries, and consistent consequences in line with agreed policies.

Impact:

• Staff respond to incidents calmly
• Behaviour plans are developed for individual needs
• Actions are documented so there is a record of what happened
• Physical intervention, if permitted, follows strict guidelines

Quality Assurance

Organisations use standards as part of quality assurance. This means they assess and review how well workers are following codes of practice. The impact is that workers know their performance will be monitored. This can improve standards of care.

Impact:

• Regular supervision sessions
• Audits of records and procedures
• Feedback from service users
• Action plans to improve weaker areas

Ethical Conduct

Many codes contain sections about ethical behaviour. This means acting in ways that are fair, respectful, and responsible. Workers must avoid actions that could harm children or damage the profession’s reputation.

Impact:

• Avoiding conflicts of interest
• Maintaining boundaries in relationships with families
• Speaking up about poor practice
• Being truthful in all reporting and communication

Responding to Complaints

Standards often set out how complaints should be handled. Workers must follow these processes. This means they record complaints, act on them quickly, and treat complainants with respect.

Impact:

• Listening carefully to concerns from children, families, or colleagues
• Resolving matters promptly within agreed timescales
• Learning from feedback to improve future practice

Supporting Emotional Wellbeing

Some standards focus strongly on emotional support for children. Workers are expected to respond to distress, encourage resilience, and promote positive self-image.

Impact:

• Recognising signs of emotional distress
• Providing safe spaces for children to talk
• Planning activities that build confidence
• Supporting children through change or loss

Accountability to the Public

Social care is funded and supported by the public. Standards and codes keep services transparent and accountable. This means that every action taken by a worker can be justified and explained.

Impact:

• Clear reporting lines to managers
• Publicly available policies
• Openness during inspections
• Responding to local community concerns

Final Thoughts

Social care standards and codes of practice are more than documents to read once and file away. They shape every part of the work you do with children and young people. They give structure to your role and show you what good practice looks like. They make sure situations are handled fairly and consistently so every child can expect safe, respectful, and effective care.

Applying these standards every day keeps children’s needs at the centre of decision-making. By following them, you protect children and yourself, you maintain trust with families, and you contribute to a service that meets legal, professional, and moral expectations. The impact is lasting and positive, helping children and young people feel safe, valued, and supported in every setting they encounter.