2.5 Explain the actions to take where poor practice and unprofessional conduct are having a negative impact on outcomes for children and young people

This. guide will help you answer 2.5 Explain the actions to take where poor practice and unprofessional conduct are having a negative impact on outcomes for children and young people.

Poor practice and unprofessional conduct can have serious and long-lasting effects on children and young people. This may involve behaviour from staff that falls short of expected standards, breaches of policy, or actions that harm development and wellbeing. Workers have a responsibility to take action when they see practice that could negatively affect outcomes. These actions must protect children and young people from further harm, promote safe environments, and uphold professional standards.

It is important to respond in ways that follow policy, maintain professionalism, and support improvement where possible. At the same time, safeguarding must always be the priority. Remember to always follow your own organisation’s policies and procedures.

What is Poor Practice and Unprofessional Conduct?

Poor practice means work that does not meet the required level of care or professionalism. This could be through lack of effort, inadequate skills, or not following agreed methods and policies. Examples include failing to meet individual care plans, using unsafe methods, or ignoring safety procedures.

Unprofessional conduct relates to behaviour or attitudes that go against the code of conduct or professional expectations. Examples include disrespecting colleagues or children, breaching confidentiality, or showing favouritism.

Recognising these issues early is key to preventing harm.

Signs of poor practice can include:

Consistently late or incomplete records
Ignoring child-centred approaches
Failure to supervise children properly
Not listening to a child’s voice or concerns

Signs of unprofessional conduct can include:

Speaking rudely to children, families, or colleagues
Sharing confidential information without consent
Using mobile phones for personal purposes during working hours
Making discriminatory comments or showing bias

First Steps When Noticing Concerns

When you spot poor practice or behaviour that is unprofessional, it is important to act quickly yet carefully. Your response must be proportionate to the concern and follow your workplace policy.

Immediate actions include:

Observing and making factual notes about what happened
Avoiding gossip or discussing concerns without following the correct process
Considering whether the behaviour poses an immediate safeguarding risk
If children are unsafe, taking urgent steps following safeguarding policy

Record only the facts. Avoid guessing motives or adding opinions at this stage. This helps prevent bias and ensures fairness when the concern is addressed later.

Following Organisational Procedures

Workplaces will have clear policies for dealing with poor practice. These might include grievance procedures, safeguarding policies, whistleblowing policies, or disciplinary processes.

You should follow these steps in line with your organisation:

Report the concern to your line manager unless they are involved in the issue. If they are, use the alternative reporting route stated in policy.
Complete incident forms or written statements as required.
Keep all records safe and confidential until passed to the appropriate person.
If the concern relates to safeguarding, follow the safeguarding policy without delay and contact the designated safeguarding lead.

Policies are in place to make sure concerns are handled fairly and consistently and that outcomes protect children and young people.

Addressing Immediate Risks

If the conduct poses a direct risk to safety or wellbeing, urgent action is required. This may mean removing a child from a dangerous situation, contacting emergency services, or securing the environment.

Examples include:

A staff member using inappropriate physical intervention
Ignoring clear medical needs of a child
Allowing unsafe access to dangerous objects or substances

In these situations, your priority is to stop harm from happening before addressing the conduct through formal channels.

Whistleblowing

Whistleblowing is reporting serious concerns about unsafe practice or wrongdoing within an organisation. It is often used when normal reporting procedures have failed or when the concern involves senior staff.

Whistleblowing may be appropriate when:

Management ignores repeated reports of poor practice
There is active cover-up of harmful behaviour
Poor practice is causing significant harm

UK law protects workers who whistleblow in good faith. You can raise concerns to Ofsted, the local authority, or other regulatory bodies if internal procedures fail to protect children and young people.

Gathering Evidence

Evidence is important when raising concerns about poor practice.

Ways to gather evidence professionally include:

Making dated, factual notes
Keeping copies of incident reports
Recording specific behaviours or outcomes observed
Avoiding emotional language in reports
Where policy allows, recording times and dates of discussions with management

Accurate records protect you from accusations of false reporting and help ensure any investigation is fair.

Confidentiality in Reporting

Only share information about poor practice with those who need to know to address the concern. This includes managers, safeguarding leads, or regulatory bodies. Sharing with other staff informally breaches confidentiality and may harm investigations.

Use secure systems to submit written reports. Do not store personal notes in unsecured places. Remove names or identifying details unless the report is being sent to an authorised person.

Supporting Colleagues to Improve Practice

Sometimes poor practice comes from lack of training or understanding rather than deliberate misconduct. You can take supportive actions as long as there is no immediate safeguarding risk.

This could include:

Offering guidance on correct procedures
Sharing training materials
Encouraging reflective practice and self-assessment
Suggesting supervision or peer mentoring

This approach can help prevent small mistakes from growing into serious issues.

Escalating Concerns

If initial reports do not lead to change and poor practice continues, you may need to escalate the concern. This could be to a more senior manager or external agency.

Escalation steps:

Follow up with written reports
Ask for updates or outcomes from the original report
If no action is taken, contact external bodies such as Ofsted or social services
Keep a clear log of all reports and responses

Escalation should be handled carefully to avoid unnecessary conflict while always putting the child’s safety first.

Impact of Unaddressed Poor Practice

When poor practice or unprofessional conduct is not challenged, outcomes for children and young people often suffer. This may include:

Delays in speech and language development
Increased risk of injury or accidents
Loss of confidence or trust in adults
Poor emotional wellbeing
Lower educational performance

In serious cases, unaddressed conduct can lead to abuse or neglect. This makes it critical that staff act quickly and follow through with concerns.

Legal and Ethical Responsibilities

UK workers in the children and young people’s workforce have legal responsibilities under safeguarding laws such as the Children Act 1989 and 2004, Working Together to Safeguard Children guidance, and the Data Protection Act 2018.

Ethical responsibilities come from codes of practice, such as the Early Years Foundation Stage framework or sector-specific professional standards. These require workers to act with integrity, maintain respect, and always centre the needs of children and young people.

Failing to act when poor practice harms children can lead to disciplinary action, loss of professional status, or legal charges.

Communicating Concerns Professionally

When reporting, use calm and respectful language. Stick to the facts and avoid personal attacks. The aim is to prevent harm, not to create conflict.

Good communication practices:

Use clear, simple language when describing events
State what happened, when, and where
Explain the effect on the child or young person’s outcomes
Avoid guessing motives

Professional communication helps investigations stay focused and fair.

Reflective Practice

Reflective practice means thinking about what happened, how you responded, and what could be improved. This helps you learn from situations involving poor practice.

You can reflect by:

Writing a reflective log after reporting a concern
Discussing with a supervisor what worked well and what could be better
Looking at how policies supported or limited your actions
Identifying any training needs for yourself

Reflection supports personal development and improves your ability to act effectively next time.

Working with External Agencies

Sometimes poor practice is serious enough to involve external agencies. These could be social services, police, Ofsted, health services, or the local safeguarding partnership.

When working with external agencies:

Provide clear records of concerns and actions taken
Follow requests for information promptly
Keep communication professional and factual
Continue to monitor the child’s welfare during the process

External agencies often have powers and resources beyond those of the workplace to protect children.

Preventing Poor Practice in the Future

After dealing with an incident, organisations should look at preventing future issues. This may involve:

Extra training for staff
Improved supervision and mentoring
Stronger recruitment checks
Clearer policies and procedures
Regular team discussions on professional conduct

Prevention protects children, supports staff to work well, and strengthens the overall quality of care.

Final Thoughts

Taking action against poor practice and unprofessional conduct can feel uncomfortable, but it is a necessary part of protecting children and young people. Your actions can prevent lasting harm and encourage higher standards of care across your setting.

It is not enough to notice something and hope it gets better. You have to act, follow procedure, and stay focused on the needs and safety of children. By being observant, documenting accurately, and using the right reporting channels, you help create an environment where children can thrive and reach their potential.

Poor practice is everyone’s responsibility to challenge. Acting fairly, confidently, and professionally keeps the focus where it belongs — on the welfare of children and young people.