Children in care
Questions on this page:
If you are in care, what help does the local authority have to give you?
What is an advocate and how can you get one to help you?
If you are in care, can you still see your parent/s or brother/sister/s?
What can you do if you’re not getting the help that you need from your local authority?
What can you do if you’re not happy in your care placement?
What are your rights if you have a child while you are in care?
If you are in care, what help does the local authority have to give you?
The local authority has to look after you and make sure that you are safe and healthy. They should make sure that you have somewhere to live, that you can go to school and give you other help, like help to buy clothes or school items. It is important that they listen to want you want when they are writing and reviewing your care plan.
What is an advocate and how can you get one to help you?
An advocate is someone that helps to make your voice heard. They will listen to you and help you to put your views and wishes across. They can come with you to meetings, help you to fill in forms and to write letters. For example, some young people ask for advocates to come with them when they have review meetings.
If you are in care you have the right to have an advocate if you want to make a complaint about the way that you have been treated by the local authority.
If you want to contact an advocate you can contact VOICE. They specialise in providing advocates for young people in care.
If you are in care, can you still see your parent/s or brother/sister/s?
Yes, unless it would be a risk for you to see them, the local authority should encourage you to see your parents, siblings and grandparents. The local authority can provide you with money to cover your travel costs to help you to visit your family.
What can you do if you’re not getting the help that you need from your local authority?
The first thing to do is to talk to your social worker or personal advisor and explain the problems that you are having. If you still don’t get the help that you need you should make a formal complaint to the complaints manager for social services in your area. You will be able to find the contact details for this person on your local authority’s website. You are entitled to the help of an advocate when making a complaint. Contact VOICE; they specialise in providing advocates for young people in care.
If the problem continues you can make a complaint to the Local Government Ombudsman
What can you do if you’re not happy in your care placement?
You should tell your social worker or personal advisor if you are unhappy about your care placement. Explain to them why you aren’t happy where you are, and they should try to solve the problems that you are having. Sometimes, they will be able to arrange a different care placement for you.
If you remain unhappy with your care placement, you can complain to the complaints manager for social services in your area. You will be able to find the contact details for this person on your local authority’s website.
If the problem continues you can make a complaint to the Local Government Ombudsman
What are your rights if you have a child while you are in care?
If you become pregnant while you are in care the local authority should undertake a pre-birth assessment of the baby and the baby will be assigned their own social worker.
It is the social worker’s job to work out what will be best for the baby once it is born. In order to make this decision, they will assess the support that you are receiving from your family, the father and his family.
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