Duty Of Care Essay

There can be a dilemma between rights and choices of children and young people and health and safety requirements and this relates to duty of care, and also UN convention and human rights, childrens rights etc, i.e. they have the right to make their own choices. However, practioners also have a duty of care and children and young people also have a right to protection, safety etc, and it may be that the protection is from themselves in that they need guidance with regards to health and safety issues and protection from harm. Often there can be a conflict of interests.

For instance may say they have a right to exercise, fresh air etc, and want to play out in the rain. Some may want to even though they do not have adequate clothing, and hence …show more content…
While they may see it as their individual right to do what they like with their body and their health, they are still classed as a minor and have to adhere to codes of conduct within the school and it is part of your duty of care to address the problem. You should be able to inform your line manager and also it may be safeguarding issue. There may be concerns of neglect if the teenager is able to access drugs and habitually use them without their parents knowledge, for instance. It may be that the parents know but are at a loss themselves of how to deal with the situation. The teenager could be referred to a school counsellor, or outsourcing a drugs counsellor as the underlying causes of drug use may need to be explored. The counsellor would know other sources of advice and support for the teenager and for his family, if they needed it. Their drug use may be part of rebellion and them asserting their rights part of that rebellion, and as such the dilemma needs to be addressed by someone with appropriate skills to handle it effectively, especially if you informing others of your concerns, they see as denying them their individual