Element 5 Blended Learning Sessions 1 + 2

Define what is meant by the term 'parental responsibility'

Answer explanation

Parental responsibility relates to the legal rights and responsibilities that parents have in relation to their child. This includes their legal duties, powers, responsibilities and authority towards their child and their child's property. This means they have the right to make decisions about and for their child.

What responsibilities does someone with parental responsibility have? Give 3 examples

Answer explanation

There are a number of responsibilities that those with parental responsibility have, including:-

Providing a home for the child

Protecting and caring for the child

Disciplining the child

Choosing and providing for the child's education

Agreeing to the child's medical treatment

Naming the child and agreeing to any change of name

Looking after the child's property

Ensure their child is financially supported

Involve both parents in important decisions about their child' life (relates to parents who are separated)

Give 3 examples of who has parental responsibility

Answer explanation

Parental responsibility can be given to the following:-

Mothers have automatic parental responsibility from birth

Fathers who are married to the child's mother

Fathers who are listed on the birth certificate

Fathers who are not married to the mother who obtain parental responsibility agreement with the mother

Fathers who are not married to the mother but who obtain parental responsibility from a court of law

Same-sex parents if they were civil parents at the time of the treatment, ie fertility treatment, donor insemination

Same-sex parents who are not civil partners - 2nd parent can apply for parental responsibility via a parental agreement or by becoming a civil partner of the other parent and making a parental responsibility agreement or by jointly registering the birth

Adoptive parents, foster parents and other relatives such as step-parent, grandparent, guardian if awarded by a court order

A person who has parental responsibility has to live with the child or young person

• True

• False

What rights to those with parental responsibility have? Give 2 examples

Answer explanation

Examples may include:-

Receiving information about their child

Participating in statutory activities, eg voting in elections for parent governors

Being asked for consent, eg trips and outings

Being informed about meetings involving their child, including any assessments (eg SEND) and details of outcomes of such assessments

If a parent breaches their parental responsibilities what might this mean in relation to intervention from other agencies or safeguarding processes?

Answer explanation

This child may be considered to be in need of further support to prevent them from coming to harm which is likely to involve other agencies including Social Services and social workers.

In serious cases, the child may be considered to be at significant risk of harm and may be subject to a court order to have them removed from the care of their parents to a place safety, ie foster care, residential care. In this instance, the parents may have their parental rights and responsibilities removed temporarily or permenently.

Give 3 benefits of working with parents/carers

Answer explanation

There are many benefits of working in partnership with parents/carers, including but not limited to:-

Creating a shared level of expectations between home and care setting

Supporting transitions to ensure they run smoother

Supporting the child's learning and development

Continuity of strategies to support the child's learning and development

Information sharing

Support for child's well-being and holistic needs

To meet individual and SEND needs

Helps practitioners understand the child's home life, background etc

Parents feel valued and involved in their child's education and care outside of the home environment

Provides role modelling opportunities of positive relationships for the child

Which other partners may practitioners need to work with other than the child's parents/carers? Give 2 examples

Answer explanation

Other examples of partners may include, but is not limited to:-

Health professionals such as GP, health visitor, school nurse, specialist nurses, physiotherapist, speech and language therapist

Family support workers

Staff in schools, eg class teachers, teaching assistants, SENDCo

Educational or child psychologists

Social workers

Mental health support workers, eg CAMHS

Substance misuse workers

Youth offending team

Define what is meant by the term 'professional boundaries'

Answer explanation

Professional boundaries are the limits to the relationship between someone in a professional role and the person in their care, the borders that mark the edges between a professional relationship and a personal relationship.

Give 1 example of a form of behaviour which could result in crossing professional boundaries

Answer explanation

You could have chosen examples from:-

Becoming friends with the parents/carers of a child in your care

Engaging/interacting with a child's parents over social media

Showing favoritism towards a child

Giving personal advice to a child's parents/carers