These guiding principles underpin all aspects of practice when supporting the integration of children and young people on the move. They provide a comprehensive framework for ensuring that services and support are child-centred, rights-based, and effective.
All interventions and support should be designed with the child's best interests at the centre, taking into account their individual needs, circumstances, and wishes. This means listening to children, understanding their perspectives, and ensuring that decisions are made with their wellbeing as the primary consideration.
Work should be grounded in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and other relevant human rights frameworks, ensuring children's rights are respected, protected, and fulfilled. This includes the right to protection, participation, provision, and non-discrimination.
Integration support should address all aspects of a child's wellbeing - physical, emotional, social, cultural, and educational needs. A holistic approach recognises that children's needs are interconnected and require comprehensive responses.
Practice should respect and value children's cultural backgrounds, languages, and identities whilst supporting their integration into new communities. This includes understanding cultural differences, avoiding assumptions, and creating inclusive environments.
Children and young people should be meaningfully involved in decisions that affect them, with their voices heard and valued throughout the process. This means creating opportunities for participation and ensuring children have genuine influence over outcomes.
All children should receive equal treatment and opportunities regardless of their legal status, country of origin, or reason for migration. This principle requires actively addressing barriers and ensuring equitable access to services and support.
Where appropriate and safe, practice should consider the role of family and work to maintain or strengthen family relationships. This includes supporting family unity, communication, and the important role families play in children's development and wellbeing.
Support should build children's resilience and capacity for future success, regardless of where their journey may lead them. This means investing in sustainable solutions and developing children's skills and capabilities.
Practice should recognise the potential impact of trauma on children's behaviour, development, and relationships, and respond in ways that promote healing and recovery. This includes understanding trauma symptoms and providing appropriate support.
Effective integration support requires collaboration between different agencies, professionals, and community members. This includes working across sectors, sharing information appropriately, and coordinating responses.
Services and support should be flexible enough to respond to children's changing needs and circumstances. This means being able to adapt approaches, modify interventions, and respond to new challenges as they arise.
Interventions should be based on the best available evidence of what works, combined with professional expertise and children's preferences. This includes regularly evaluating outcomes and continuously improving practice based on learning and feedback.