The child protection environment includes some of the most emotionally charged sets of social work practices (Mills, 2011). Social workers must listen to children and young people on issues that concern them; some of these events may be too highly emotional for the professional to contain. This essay describes and evaluates the importance of listening to children and young people on issues that affect them in practice. In the first part, key definitions of childhood will be considered because the meaning is culturally charged. In the second part we will analyze the meaning and origin of listening to children, in its different types and barriers. The social worker's interpretation of listening and the young person's interpretation of listening will be critically examined. We will explore the essential tools of listening and why it is important to truly listen to children, highlighting the practical effectiveness of current child and young people protection policy and statute in Great Britain. First of all, it is essential to discuss the concepts of childhood and listening. Childhood is a highly contested model because its meaning and interpretation vary from person to person as it is influenced by cultural heritage, family background and experiences (Alderson, 1995). For example, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989) defines children as anyone under the age of eighteen. Furthermore, the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (2005) postulated that the childhood period is a special period during which a child should learn to live and survive the world through school, play, man hand that grows strong and develops his trust with his surroundings. affection and support from... middle of paper... shifting focus from processes to the child's needs (HM Government, 2013). In conclusion, social workers have a professional duty to safeguard and protect children; this can only be achieved if you maintain professional boundaries with all parties involved and work effectively with other professionals to achieve this. Social workers have the responsibility to find a means through which to reach the child, rather than the child determining it. Social workers should always address any concerns they may have about a vulnerable child because that small step can lead to saving a life. Truly listening to children has the potential to produce positive outcomes for children because it gives them the power to influence decisions that affect their lives rather than being passive recipients of services, which could have tragic consequences.