“We are not mistakes on pages, we are awesome novels with unorthodox beginnings.”
TACT ambassador Solomon OB.
Language That Cares is a collaborative effort led by TACT that aims to change the language of the care system. Language is a powerful tool for communication but sometimes the way that it is used in social care creates stigma and barriers for understanding. Language is power, and we want children and young people to feel empowered in their care experience.
Why has this language evolved? The reasons are varied but one respondent put it very well:
“Why we use these terms? It might be that it gives us a sense of control, reducing a complex situation into something that you can describe neatly and respond to or that it decreases our feeling regarding perceived risk, being able to name a difficulty or threat reduces the danger of an unknowable threat. It can offer a disguise for when we don’t know, or we don’t understand and defends us against an intolerable/unpleasant feeling.”
Professional Language can be a weapon but it can also be emotional armour. We have asked children and young people about their wishes and feelings on the day to day language used with, or to talk about, them and Language That Cares is their work.
Language That Cares is not an absolute list of all words used in the care system and does not represent everyone’s view. However, it starts a much necessary discussion about the way we communicate and engage with our children and young people.
Language evolves and changes and this is the ‘first edition’ of Language That Cares. We will all continue to consult with our children and young people about the language we use. We also hope that more Local Authorities and organisations will join us for future editions and, together, we can show our children and young people that we really care about them and about what they have to say to us.
