5. Standard: Taking the lead

Promoting the involvement of children and young people at all levels of decision-making across the Council requires change in the culture of our organisation. Achieving these changes requires leadership by staff, elected members, partner organisations and young people themselves

Rating activity

  1. In place and effective
  2. In place but needs improving
  3. Currently being established
  4. Not in place

What works well?

In terms of this standard, children, young people and their parents/ guardians in Waltham Forest have told us they appreciate the following:

  • In terms of this standard, children, young people and their parents/guardians in Waltham Forest have told us they appreciate the following:
  • Having access to the ‘people at the top’, or the upper layers of accountability, when trying to bring about change within an organisation
  • Having the opportunity to be involved in all stages of service delivery, design, delivery and review. This involves working in partnership with children and young people and sharing power at the upper levels to allow them to contribute to key decisions
  • Knowing what decisions they realistically can affect. Will they really be able to impact on the decisions that have implications for the entire organisation, or is their input tokenistic?
  • Organisations constantly try to find different ways of getting people involved, and understanding that a ‘parent’s forum’ will not attract the wide diversity of people that is hoped for

Online matrix for the standard "Taking the lead"
Indicator Existing activity Supporting evidence Rating Next steps / plans
Level 1        

Leaders champion the involvement of children and young people.

Example >>>

Identify an elected member as a youth champion for the borough.

Overview:

Service area:

Directorate:

Lead contact:

 Title:

1

2

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4

Objective:

Service area:

Lead Contact:

Leaders support innovative involvement activity, and accept the risk of mistakes.

Example >>>

Leaders accept the principle of risk-taking in relation to involvement activity.

Overview:

Service area:

Directorate:

Lead contact:

 Title:

1

2

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4

Objective:

Service area:

Lead Contact:

Leaders publicly acknowledge and celebrate children and young people’s active involvement.

Example >>>

Members to visit events and take part in schemes such as Local Democracy Week.

Overview:

Service area:

Directorate:

Lead contact:

 Title:

1

2

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4

Objective:

Service area:

Lead Contact:
Level 2        

Children and young people are involved in leadership programmes,

Example >>>

Children and young people’s involvement training is included as part of Member Induction programme.

Overview:

Service area:

Directorate:

Lead contact:

 Title:

1

2

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4

Objective:

Service area:

Lead Contact:

Children and young people have opportunities to meet senior staff, elected members etc.

Example >>>

Children and young people are aware of, and take up, the open door policy within the Council.

Overview:

Service area:

Directorate:

Lead contact:

 Title:

1

2

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Objective:

Service area:

Lead Contact:

The Council leads partners in creating shared children and young people’s involvement objectives.

Example >>>

Development of joint-working procedures with partners to promote the active involvement of young people.

Overview:

Service area:

Directorate:

Lead contact:

 Title:

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Objective:

Service area:

Lead Contact:

Children and young people lead specific projects and appropriate services.

Example >>>

Youth conference designed and delivered by young people.

Overview:

Service area:

Directorate:

Lead contact:

 Title:

1

2

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4

Objective:

Service area:

Lead Contact:

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