Learning Topic 3: Work with the young person as the focus
By the end of this topic you will be able to use your knowledge and skills to:
Apply youth centred practices when working with young people
Respect the rights needs and responsibilities of the young person and worker
Establish professional relationships and boundaries with a young person and recognise and manage power inequities in working with young people
Section 3.1: Applying youth centred practices when working with young people
Applying youth centred practices when working with young people means working by some basic principles that should include:
understanding the factors that influence young people’s lives
being aware of young people’s rights and responsibilities
referring to your organisation’s code of ethics that guides workers’ practice
adhering to confidentiality and duty of care principles (refer to the module ‘Young People and Drugs – Issues for Workers’ for more information)
respecting young people’s identities, culture and diversity
understanding the developmental issues that young people face
remaining curious about young people’s experiences
using creative and innovative approaches in dealing with issues young people face.
creating a service that is youth-friendly by including young people in the organisation and developing systems and environments that meet the needs of young people
being genuine and honest in your dealings with young people
understanding your role and the role of your agency - do not cross boundaries.
It is important to understand the interplay between the different systems influencing young people. By doing so workers can develop a wide range of strategies and interventions in working with young people. The following diagrams illustrate the factors that influence a young person’s life that we should be aware of if we want to apply a youth centred practice. (click on each tab to see each image)
A systems approach to youth centred practices
Simple Systems Approach
Systems Approach - More detail
Activity 3.1
Based on the material above, list the issues that are important in working effectively with young people. What are some issues for organisations and for individual workers to consider?
Summary
Our values and beliefs affect the way we respond to young people. Similarly organisations have both covert and overt values and beliefs which affect how they engage and work with young people.
When working with young people it is helpful to:
understand that young people are a diverse group who deal with life in a variety of ways
understand the developmental stages that influence young people’s experiences and behaviours
understand that society’s beliefs and values in regard to young people affect the way they are treated and viewed
encourage young people to be active participants in their lives
develop services and programs that are influenced by these perspectives.
Section 3.1: Applying youth centred practices when working with young people
