Common Core of Skills, Knowledge & Understanding and Values for the "Children's Workforce" in Scotland

Ministerial Foreword

This Government's vision for children and young people is clear: we want Scotland to be the best place in the world for them to grow up. A place where children can access all the opportunities and support that they need, when they need it. We believe every child in Scotland has the right to be active, achieving, nurtured, respected, responsible, included, healthy - and above all, safe.

The people who work with children, young people and their families every day, who build up strong relationships and promote children's rights, are key to ensuring we achieve this vision.

Organisations and workers across the country are responding positively to developments such as the Early Years Task Force, the children and young people's legislation, the national parenting strategy and the continued roll-out of the Getting It Right For Every Child approach. It is through these developments and existing social policy frameworks that we are channelling our efforts to promote and support children's rights and wellbeing. All of these developments ensure that this is an exciting time to be working with children, young people and their families in Scotland. We must continue to support our workers to be ready to face the challenges ahead and the Common Core of skills, knowledge and understanding and values is a resource designed to do just that.

From the perspective of children, young people and their families, the Common Core describes what is fundamentally important to them, no matter what service they are using or their own circumstances or backgrounds. From the perspective of workers (whether paid or unpaid) the Common Core describes the fundamentals that every worker should demonstrate and contains the basics needed to build positive relationships and promote children's rights.

The Common Core draws on the views of children and young people about what they want from those who work with them. It also reflects the areas of agreement from respondents to a public consultation. So no-one should be surprised by the content of the Common Core, but the question to ask is not whether you demonstrate the characteristics within the Common Core, but how well you do it.

For that reason it is important to reflect on the areas within the Common Core, either individually or in your teams and this report contains examples of questions that will help the process of reflection. Sharing your thoughts and actions linked to the Common Core is a big part of the process and so I encourage you to sign up to and use the GIRFEC Knowledge Hub.

Working with children, young people and their families is one of the most rewarding jobs in Scotland. Whether you are an employee or a volunteer you have a crucial role in helping children and young people fulfil their potential. I hope you find this report helpful and I look forward to hearing about the different ways people are reflecting on and implementing the Common Core.

AILEEN CAMPBELL
Minister for Children & Young People