As a worker, you have a duty to make sure the rights of all individuals are promoted and protected this includes the rights of children. You may not directly care for, or support children and young people, but you may come into contact with them through your work for example children visiting a clients home. It is for this reason that staff need to understand their rights.

The Code of Conduct states that you should ‘promote and uphold the privacy, dignity, rights, health and wellbeing of people who use health and social care services and their carers’ (remember, children or young people can be carers too).

The Human Rights Act, 1998 gives a number of fundamental rights to every person living in the UK. Some of these rights include:

• The right to life
• Freedom from torture or degrading treatment
• The right to education
• The right to liberty and security
• Protection from discrimination

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) is a worldwide agreement between countries as to the basic rights that children under 18 should have.

• The right to life
• The right to live a healthy life
• The right to not be separated from their parents unless they are at risk of harm
• The right of protection from drugs, sexual abuse or any harm to their development

Article 39 specifies that children who have been neglected or abused should receive specialist support to restore their self-respect such as counselling.

Use to answer question 11.3 i, ii, iii of the Care Certificate