Code of Principles & Practice

This Association will develop a highly professional and consistent support mechanism for Managers and strategic leads responsible for school attendance. The Association will achieve this by the delivery of effective, competent, statutory and other services, accessible to children, families and schools.

 

The Association strives for best practice and this document can be used by managers and strategic leads working to improve school attendance.

 

Members of the Association work in partnership with children and young people, their families, schools, educational services and establishments, and other statutory and voluntary agencies.

 

Objectives of the Code

  1. The Association for Education Welfare Management (AEWM) is committed to the development of appropriate professional competencies, practices and appropriate skills to ensure that the child receives an education.
  2. In adopting this code the AEWM believes that those working in this specialist field have responsibilities to service users, schools, Local Authorities, colleagues, other agencies, and the wider community. AEWM considers its duty to promote professional standards and to encourage the provision of an effective service of the highest quality
  3. This code of practice provides a framework of key principles and identifies areas of practice which are integral to the task and its context. 
  4. The aim is to facilitate and promote the continuing development of the profession in order that children and young people have access to services that meet their educational, social and developmental needs. 

Statement of Principles

  1. Education through regular and beneficial attendance at school or otherwise should be actively promoted. 
  2. Members have a duty to safeguard children and young people from abuse and exploitation.
  3. Members are committed to ensuring access to services to promote school attendance.
  4. Effective communication and joint working with other professionals and organisations should be promoted. 
  5. The Association maintains that children and young people are individuals in their own right and of equal worth whatever their race, culture, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, disability, social background, or special educational needs. 
  6. Members of the Association have a professional responsibility to respecting the rights and dignity of all individuals, acknowledging their entitlement to confidentiality and self determination, and to uphold the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. 
  7. Education and vocational information and guidance should be available and accessible to families, children and young people. 
  8. The Association and its members have a duty to challenge practices that do not accord with these principles.

 

Statement of Operational Practice

  1. Purpose
  2. a) To assist parents, schools and the Local Authority to meet the duties placed on them by relevant legislation.  
  3. b) To enable and enhance effective communication between and within families, schools, agencies, other services and the wider community.
  4. c) To foster and maintain a climate in which members are able to fulfil this code of practice.
  5. Rights of the Individual
  6. a) To acknowledge the rights of service users to access, advice and support in obtaining services to which they are entitled. 
  7. b) To act as advocate, where appropriate, for children, young people and families when they seek to obtain the services to which they are entitled.
  8. Confidentiality
  9. a) To recognise that information entrusted to members should not be disclosed without the knowledge of the service user, other than where there are safeguarding concerns in line with current statutory guidance..
  10. b) To conduct working relationships with children, young people and parents in an open and honest way which allows for the proper sharing and recording of information.
  11. Anti-discriminatory practice
  12. a) To provide support on an equitable basis according to need, regardless of race, culture, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, disability, social background, or special educational needs.
  13. b) To promote equal opportunities within all aspects of work.
  14. c) To confront discrimination whenever it may arise.
  15. Record Keeping and Access to Information
  16. a) To ensure a co-ordinated and consistent approach to referral, recording and reporting systems.
  17. b) To recognise the need for objectivity, accuracy and confidentiality where appropriate.
  18. c) To recognise the requirements of both the legislation and the underlying principles related to data protection, access to personal files and pupil records.
  19. d) To collate, analyse, interpret, and present data on issues relating to relevant aspects of members work.
  20. Workload Management

  21. a) To establish and maintain clear systems for assessment, planning, monitoring and the evaluation of workloads, including self-evaluation, appraisal, and feedback from service users.
  22. b) To establish access to effective supervision and support from a line manager.



 

  1. Intervention
  2. a) To facilitate the process of intervention through a full assessment of needs and consideration of the resources and methods available.
  3. b) To make appropriate use of legal proceedings as part of a planned intervention.
  4. c) To empower families where they seek to resolve their own difficulties. 
  5. d) To assist children and young people in maximising their educational opportunities. 

 

  1. Training and Professional Development
  2. a) To recognise that a programme of professional development is essential to provide an effective work-force and to ensure consistent standards of service delivery, against a background of changing needs and expectations.
  3. b) To recognise that staff development programmes should include provision for the evaluation of performance and attainment of objectives in areas of work which affect personal development.
  4. c) It is essential to these principles that there is a robust induction programme for newly appointed and promoted staff.


Competencies for members

Members of the Association are expected to demonstrate the following practice requirements together with a commitment to engage in appropriate training programmes to enable Local Authorities, schools, other agencies and parents / carers to meet their duties, statutory and otherwise.

  1. The ability to communicate and engage with children and young people their families, schools, educational services and establishments and other statutory and voluntary agencies, to promote education by regular and beneficial attendance at school or otherwise.
  2. To develop the values, knowledge and skills that enable members of the Association to respond effectively to non attendance at school in an organised and considered way.
  3. The ability to promote regular school attendance and assist parents/carers in meeting their responsibilities in securing the education of children and young people.
  4. The ability to assess and review children/young people and family circumstances and plan appropriate responses and intervention within the statutory framework and evaluate outcomes.
  5. The ability to contribute to evaluation of the effectiveness and efficiency of services offered.
  6. To take personal responsibility in managing, evaluating and further developing professional competencies through effective use of supervision, appraisal and management of workload.
  7. To have the knowledge and skills to promote the protection of children and young people from abuse and exploitation.

 

Approved by the 2019 AGM