A new Research in Practice publication provides guidance about how practitioners can explore and write about identity with children and young people.
Social care practitioners play a significant role in the lives of children and their families. For children and young people, being supported by professionals who recognise their unique and evolving identities is important.
The practice tool aims to provide a short introduction to some useful concepts for social care practitioners, some suggestions to support children’s identity development, and practice tools to use to explore identity with children and young people.
Developed in collaboration with frontline practitioners and with a group of young people from the Family Justice Young People’s Board, the practice tool aims to build confidence in understanding, exploring and supporting children’s identities.
Exploring and understanding children’s identities is challenging. Practitioners need to be well-supported, to have the time to build trusting relationships with children and their families, and work in partnership with them to understand their identity and lived experience.
Research in Practice resources to support children’s identity development
These Research in Practice resources are designed for practitioners to support the identity development of children and young people, including life story work, using genograms, and the importance of good recording.
Understanding, exploring and supporting children’s identity development: Practice Tool (2023)
This practice tool provides guidance about how practitioners can explore and write about identity with children and young people. It includes tips and practical tools, drawn from practice experience and research evidence.
Enabling and embedding creative participation in child and family social work: Practice Tool (2022)
This practice tool considers the degree to which children can actively take part in decision-making processes that affect their safety and security.
Good practice in recording and access to records: Strategic Briefing (2022)
This briefing is for managers and senior leaders in children’s social care. Its aim is to enable a better understanding of the benefits of person-centred recording and to help strategic leaders and managers think about how they might implement improvements in this area of their local practice.