Introduction to Practice for Child and Youth Care Counsellors

The following global ideas guide the design and delivery of this course:

• Child and youth care practitioners support children, youth, families and communities in culturally appropriate ways, in a broad range of settings.
• Observation of and reflection on self are integral to effective child and youth care practice and on-going personal and professional development.
• Positive change in the lives of children and youth happens with support, encouragement, planning, discussions, action and evaluation.
• Observation and Recording:
  • Observing and learning from other practitioners and community members provides insight into roles, responsibilities and contact for practice
  • The purpose of the observation is to be more effective in responding to others.
  • Effective observers have clear focus, purpose and intention. They conduct themselves in a legal, culturally respectful and ethical manner.
  • The ways in which observations are recorded and reported influences how the information is used.
  • Accurate observation requires awareness of personal values and filters, preconceptions and biases. Cultural awareness, self awareness, contextual factors, choice of language and openness to reflection, review and revision need careful attention.
  • Context and events are linked, thus contextual factors need consideration when observing, recording and interpreting.
  • The observer’s presence and behaviour affects the situation being observed.
  • Competent practitioners consider different hypotheses when interpreting their observations. Their conclusions are tentative, open to reflection, review and revision.