Standards

• Standards are public and measurable promises to reach a level of activity or service.

• They provide the impetus for developing and evaluating an action plan for change.

• They are crucial for achieving improvement in an organisation and its services.

Standards: based on shared values

visible

resourced

valued

accessible

safe and sound

Children and young people’s participation works best when it is:

Who benefits?

Children and young people

The organisation and its partners

The wider community

Standards Framework

Reliable

Tried and tested

Robust framework

Evidence-based

Flexible

Adaptable

7 standards

7 indicators for each standard

3 levels

Self-assessment

Standard: Shared Values

CommentaryThings to ask questions about…

Evidence (paper, verbal, observation)

What do children and young people say about evidence for this standard?

What are their priorities?

Emerging1.1

1.2

1.3

Established1.4

1.5

Advanced1.6

1.7

Mapping Shared values:

Mapping

1 In place and effective

2 In place but needs improving

3 Currently being established

4 Not in placeEmerging What is your evidence

of meeting the indicator?

What do children and young

people say?

Score

1.1 2

Planning Shared values:

Planning

1.1

Prio

rity

Who

?

Res

ourc

es

need

ed

Bar

riers

/ S

olut

ions

By

whe

n?

How

invo

lve

child

ren

&

youn

g pe

ople

?

Are

as f

or

Impr

ovem

ent

Impact of participation

“If people who are supposed to be the beneficiaries of change do not know it is happening – then it probably is not happening.”

– Lord Herman Ouseley

What’s changed because of children and young people’s participation?

Better outcomes

Children and young people are:

• healthy

• safe

• enjoying and achieving

• making a positive contribution and

• having economic wellbeing

What’s changed   Evidence of

Evidence from Listening Action Change

 Organisation  

   

Children and young people

 Others     

Hear by Rightscores

What’s changing in the organisation – stories of internal change

What’s changed for children and young people – what’s better in their lives

Minimum of 2 scored for all Emerging indicators.Agreed by children and young people

2 stories of participation, building on evidence in the Hear by Right map

2 What’s Changed examples, framed in the Every Child Matters five outcomes

Hear by Right “with teeth”E

mer

gin

g

Lev

el

Sharing the learning

Where to find out more

• Hear by Right, with CD and briefings£10 from The National Youth Agency. Tel: 0116 242 7427. E-mail: sales@nya.org.uk

• Contact the Participation team at The NYA for information, ideas, resources, training and consultancy. Tel: 0116 242 7406. E-mail: participation@nya.org.uk

• Further information and resources from www.nya.org.uk/hearbyright

Shared ValuesThe active involvement of children and young people works best when:

• Commitment at the top

• Built in

• Backed by the right attitudes and skills

Children and young people’s involvement is a visible commitment that is properly resourced:

Shared ValuesThe active involvement of children and young people works best when:

Children and young people have equal opportunity to get involved:

• A right to participate

• Respect diversity

• Go the extra mile to include

• Training and support

• Clear and timely information

Shared ValuesThe active involvement of children and young people works best when:

Children and young people’s involvement is valued:

• Honesty and respect

• Clear and prompt feedback

• Rewarded and celebrated

Shared ValuesThe active involvement of children and young people works best when:

Policies and standards for the participation of children and young people are provided, evaluated and improved:

• Aims and benefits are clear from the start

• Children and young people evaluate the difference

• Standards for safe and sound participation

Why bother?Five reasons

• Children and young people’s rights (Article 12 of the UNCRC)

• Better services

• Stronger democracy and local communities

• Benefits to children and young people

• We have to!

Of course, children and young people also have the right not to get involved!

Benefits of involving children and young people

For children and young people:

• Improved outcomes for children and young people

• Skills, confidence and self-esteem

• Influence organisations

• Better services

Benefits of involving children and young people

For the organisation and its partners:

• Valuable information

• Fresh perspectives and new ideas

• Better services and saves money

Benefits of involving children and young people

For the wider community:

• More vibrant local democracy

• Community cohesion

• Empowering environment

Involved in what?

• Planning and organising

• Doing and delivering

• Checking, reviewing and learning

To what degree? Increased participation

Ladder of Participation

(Roger Hart, 1992)