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Principle 11: Knowledge and skills


Disclaimer: This fact sheet is for educational use only. Please consult your doctor or other health professional to make sure this information is right for your child.

Introduction

The following is one of a group of principles which recognise the particular needs of children and young people receiving health and disability support services. The principles describe what should be provided when your child or young person receives those services. They are based on expert opinion and a considerable body of literature in New Zealand and overseas and they have been developed after wide consultation. See all the principles listed in Principles: what health and disability services should provide for your child or young person.
 

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Knowledge and skills

Principle: Health and disability service providers whose knowledge and skills enable them to respond appropriately to children and young people’s clinical, emotional, developmental, educational and cultural needs, should care for children, young people and their families.
 
Caring for children requires different knowledge and skills from those required when working with adults.
 
You can expect all staff who have contact with children to have had specific education, within their organisation, on the needs of children. This includes, porters, clerks, pathology staff, x-ray and plaster room technicians. You can expect all health care professionals to be appropriately qualified for the posts they hold and the service they provide.
 
You can expect staff working with children and young people to have the appropriate skills to:
  • deal with the specific problems of childhood illness, where children react differently to adults both physically and emotionally
  • communicate with children and young people
  • provide care and support for the whole family
  • work with families from different backgrounds, cultures and beliefs, acknowledging the effect that these have on the care of children and family life
  • work with other providers and agencies in the co-ordination of your child’s care

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Acknowledgements

 

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Endorsement

This fact sheet was endorsed by PSNZ - 20/10/2010

Copyright

Fact sheets are subject to copyright. In the interests of information sharing they may be copied but acknowledgement must be given to PSNZ and Starship Foundation.
© The Paediatric Society of New Zealand and Starship Foundation 2005 - 2012


The Paediatric Society of New Zealand
http://www.paediatrics.org.nz 		Starship Foundation
http://www.starship.org.nz