ADVOCACY
Promoting the cause of, or acting on behalf of, another person to secure the services they require and the rights to which they are entitled.
AFTER-CARE
Advice and assistance provided by Social Services to young people up to the age of 21 who have started adult life without the support which would usually be available from a family.
ASSESSMENT
The process of identifying an individual's needs and determining eligibility for assistance against stated policy criteria.
CHILD PROTECTION
Protecting children from emotional, sexual and physical abuse, and neglect
CONSULTATION
Asking people what they think or what they would like to happen. This is different to participation which implies involvement in the decision making process.
EXCLUDED
Children may be excluded from a school on the grounds of their behaviour for a fixed period (sometimes called 'suspension') or permanently (sometimes called 'expulsion').
FAMILY CENTRE
A centre which the child and parent or carers can attend for occupation and recreational activities, guidance, advice or counselling.
LEARNING DISABILITY
Term now used along with learning difficulty rather than mentally handicapped.
LOOKED AFTER
Term used for children for whom the local authority is providing accommodation or care.
MEDIATION (FAMILY)
A process in which a neutral third party, the mediator, helps a couple considering separation or divorce to reach agreements which need to be made concerning children, finance and property.
PARENTING SKILLS
Skills required by parents to enable them to bring up their children to a reasonable standard of health and development.
RESPITE CARE
The provision of short breaks (either foster care or residential care) for families of children where there may be high levels of stress.
SIGNIFICANT HARM
Where the question of whether harm suffered by the child is significant turns on the child's health or development. His/her health or development shall be compared with that which could reasonably be expected of a similar child.
SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS
Needs that call for educational provision additional to what is generally offered to children of the same age (or call for any educational provision for a child aged under two).
STATEMENT OF EDUCATIONAL NEEDS
Legal document produced by the Local Education Authority that identifies and assesses a child's educational needs and the provision to be made to meet them.