Building and maintaining trust is so important for those that work with vulnerable young people, children and families. The experience of those on the margins, perhaps with difficult, turbulent or ‘dysfunctional’ backgrounds, care leavers, absent parents and so on, is frequently one of being constantly let down. Whether that be through schools, state support structures, institutions, legal frameworks, family and other relationships with adults. This is particularly the case with many of those that have had a traumatic experience of early life.
The importance of healthy, affirming and trusting relationships with those that support or work with them is of key importance. It is also unfortunately the experience of many that people, projects, teachers and support workers frequently appear to offer much, but then fail in their promise, workers move on to other jobs, or funding runs out and the young people are left in the lurch. Further compounding their distrust and low self esteem.
When circumstances, situations or time dictate that a working relationship is coming to an end, it is also important that this is honestly and openly handled, with care, in order that growth and development continue, and negative experiences, outlooks and feelings are not further compounded. A number of toolkits and links to useful materials and thought provoking articles may be found below.
- Keeping myself safe -Practitioner’s toolkit for developing effective relationships with vulnerable young people: https://www.actionforchildren.org.uk/media/3240/keeping_myself_safe_tookit_final.pdf
- Young People’s Advice on Building Relationships in Residential Child Care: https://blogs.iriss.org.uk/relationships-matter/2015/12/04/listen-up/
- Supporting positive relationships for children and young people who have experience of care: https://www.iriss.org.uk/resources/insights/supporting-positive-relationships-children-young-people-experience-care
- Home office and Early Intervention Foundation report and research paper – Building trusted relationships for vulnerable children and young people with public services: https://www.eif.org.uk/download.php?file=files/pdf/building-trusted-relationships.pdf
- Professional relationships with young people – a free learning module from the Open University: https://www.open.edu/openlearn/ocw/mod/oucontent/view.php?id=19884&printable=1