Planning children's services: a model of engagement

Adult Duty-Bearers: Planned Action

Event 3 ended with adult duty-bearers identifying what they can do and will do for children and young people.

This summary of I can statements from the adult participants captures the main emphasis of the commitments made on the day:

• Help all services to work together to make sure what we have learned from children and young people helps shape the future of Edinburgh.
• Listen to children and young people/ensure that children and young people are listened to, continue to be listened to and have opportunities to participate regularly.
• Encourage others to listen to and respect the views of children and young people.
• Promote the rights of children and young people to be heard and to be involved in planning services.
• Ensure children and young people are at the heart of decision-making and planning.
• Advocate on behalf of young people to policy makers and decision-makers.
• Make sure children and young people are involved in developing specific services/aspects of work: schools, NHS, Locality Improvement Plans.
• Share key messages from today/from children and young people as well as sharing knowledge about how we worked together.
• Learn how productive mixing children, young people and adults can be.
• Support new parents so that they have the confidence and tools to give children the best start in life and to develop with their children.
• Offer free recreational clubs and activities.

This summary of I will statements from the adult participants captures the main emphasis of the commitments made on the day:

• Share with my team/service the outcomes, learning and inspiration of today, put it on the agenda of team meetings.
• Promote the voice of children and young people.
• Promote children's rights and how they can make everything we do better - encourage others not to be frightened of upholding children's rights.
• Don't make assumptions about what children and young people want or need.
• Ensure that there are regular opportunities for young people to participate in service planning.
• Check regularly with young people that we are listening to them and acting on what they say.
• Listen to children and young people at every opportunity.
• Involve children in the design of new schools.
• Measure the impact of children and young people's involvement and promote what we find.
• Embed this approach in locality improvement planning and engagement in Edinburgh.
• Share commitments and ask 'powerful adults' if they have acted on them.

A full recording of responses is in appendix 6.