The ‘lived experience of the child’ is; ‘What a child sees, hears, thinks and experiences on a daily basis that impacts on their personal development and welfare whether that be physically or emotionally. As practitioners we need to; actively hear what the child has to say or communicate, observe what they do in different contexts, hear what family members, significant adults/carers and professionals have said about the child, and to think about history and context. Ultimately we need to put ourselves in that child’s shoes and think ‘what is life like for this child right now?’
[Definition of ‘lived experience’ task and finish group 2018]
The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Children Safeguarding Board Lived Experience of the Child Practitioner Guidance has been developed by partners to assist practitioner insight, to ensure that the voice of the child is actively heard and where necessary to support effective action to safeguard our children and young people.
