KEY COMPETENCY 7.3 – COLLABORATE WITH OTHERS
“I will seek and provide referrals and other peer and community support as needed for children and families.”
Referrals and Other Support is the third competency under the ‘Collaborate With Others’ Way of Working, and relates to the ‘design and delivery of services and supports‘ phase of the child’s early developmental support journey. It is important for:
Holistic Care: Effective referrals connect children and families to essential services and resources, ensuring comprehensive support that addresses their unique needs.
Timely Access: Facilitating referrals allows families to access the right services promptly, reducing delays in receiving necessary care and support.
Collaboration: This competency fosters collaboration among various professionals, enhancing coordinated efforts to support the child’s overall development.
Empowerment: Providing families with information about available services empowers them to make informed decisions about their child’s care, strengthening their advocacy skills.
Referrals and other supports involve connecting children and families with external services or specialists when their needs extend beyond the practitioner’s expertise. This may include referring families to healthcare providers, early intervention services, or social support networks.
Research emphasises the importance of a well-functioning referral system in early childhood education, noting that timely referrals can significantly improve outcomes for children with additional needs., and explores the role of early childhood educators in identifying when and how to provide referrals to ensure families receive appropriate support.
Research and Further Reading:
Damjanovic, V. and Ward, J. (2023). Communities of practice as a launchpad for social justice planning in early childhood education. Contemporary Issues in early childhood, 24(3), 363-368. https://doi.org/10.1177/14639491231155554
Pattiruhu, C. (2023). Integrative holistic learning strategies in early childhood education. Al-Hijr Journal of Adulearn World, 2(4), 329-349. https://doi.org/10.55849/alhijr.v2i1.549
Warren, A. (2014). ‘relationships for me are the key for everything’: early childhood teachers’ subjectivities as relational professionals. Contemporary Issues in early childhood, 15(3), 262-271. https://doi.org/10.2304/ciec.2014.15.3.262
COMPETENCY MILESTONES
I am able to:
Understand that children, families, and carers often have multiple peer and community support providers.
Assist in helping families understand the range of services available and how they collaborate to achieve outcomes and goals for the child.
Support the child, family, and carers in engaging with the child’s multidisciplinary team.
I am able to:
Provide comprehensive support to children, families, and carers in navigating and coordinating multiple peer and community support providers.
Ensure clear communication and collaboration between various services to deliver cohesive outcomes and goals for the child.
Proactively facilitate engagement between the child, family, carers, and the multidisciplinary team, ensuring all parties are informed and involved.
I am able to:
Lead efforts to streamline and integrate support services for children, families, and carers.
Develop and implement strategies to enhance collaboration and coordination among peer and community support providers.
Mentor colleagues in proactive engagement techniques, ensuring the child, family, and carers effectively interact with the multidisciplinary team.
I am able to:
Champion a holistic approach to supports management across the organisation, promoting seamless integration of services.
Develop and implement policies and programs to improve coordination and collaboration among peer and community support providers.
Continuously evaluate and improve engagement practices, ensuring children, families, and carers receive optimal support from their multidisciplinary team.
Reflection questions are a valuable tool for practitioners, promoting self-awareness, critical thinking, continuous improvement, and stronger relationships in their work with children and families. Below are some reflection questions for Key Competency 7.3: Referrals and Other Support:
Am I aware of the range of services available to support children and families?
How do I determine when a referral is necessary, and do I ensure families are supported through the process?
Have I established a network of trusted professionals to refer to?
Providing timely and appropriate referrals ensures that families access the specialized care they need, leading to better outcomes for children and families alike.
Access more information on the ChildKind Best Practice Framework with its 10 Ways of Working, 30 Key Competencies and 8 supporting Values and Behaviours here:
