Rules, legislation and certificates
The formal things you need to know, before and while you work with people
When you work closely with children young people and vulnerable adults there is responsibility that comes with it. Although pedagog assistant is not an authorized profession in the same way as for example nurse there are still a number of rules and papers you must know – both for your own and for the people you work with.
§Certificate of clearance and clean criminal record
Workplaces that work with children and young people under 15 must obtain a child certificate before you are hired. It is a very fundamental requirement in educational work and it also applies in practice. Many places also ask for a regular criminal record. It is not something you should be nervous about but something you should count on as a fixed part of employment.
§Confidentiality obligation and duty to report
Two concepts are crucial in the trade. Confidentiality obligation means you cannot pass on private information about the people you work with to outsiders. Duty to report means the opposite in one very specific situation: if you suspect a child is struggling or subjected to something serious, you have a duty to report it. The two are connected and covered thoroughly in training
§Courses and certificates you often encounter
Part of the apprenticeship and many workplaces is practical courses that give you concrete skills. The typical ones are:
- 01First aid — so you can act if something happens
- 02Fire fighting or elementary fire as part of safety
- 03Hygiene and prevention of infection in institutions
- 04Possible training in medicine handling if your workplace has these types of tasks and gives you the responsibility
§Legislation that affects everyday life
In everyday life you experience among other things the daycare act and the pedagogical curricula which set the framework for work with children in daycare. If you work with adults or in residential facilities the Social Services Act comes more into play. You do not need to know the paragraphs by heart but you must know what rules apply where you work and where to find them.
The point is not to make the trade heavy with paragraphs, but to give you peace of mind: when you know the rules, you know what you can do, what you must do, and when to speak up. It makes you a confident colleague.