Involving children and young people in planning services

We believe that children and young people should be involved in the planning, delivery and services that affect them. This is critical to ensure that services are efficient and based on actual need.

The United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of the Child also states that “All children and young people have a right to a say in any matter affecting them and for their views to be taken seriously”.

We do this through the Sheffield Children and Young People’s Involvement Strategy.

Sheffield has a Children and Young People’s (CYP) Multi-Agency Involvement Group (MAIG) to champion and set standards to ensure that all children and young people are involved in decision-making processes.

Our Sheffkids services to involve children and young people include:

• Sheffield’s Children in Care Council for 13 to 18 year olds
• Young Inspectors who are trained to inspect leisure activities, services and venues and ‘mystery shop’ services in the public and private sector
• child-centred reviews for looked after children

We also provide:

• advocacy for those in care and those at initial child protection conferences
• Independent Visitors – monthly fun visits for children and young people in care
• training for professionals working with children and young people, including social care staff, school councils and school staff
• consultation – ideas of bespoke, creative, child-friendly ways to hear views, including from those with disabilities and no formal method of communication
• toolkits and resources – DVDs, a practical ‘Communi-crate’, and ideas to help services gain the views of children and young people