There are many reasons why children and young people have to live away from their families.
When children and young people can't live at home, Social Services find a place for them to live instead.
The Children's Act 1989 has set down some rules to make sure that children and young people are being brought up in the best way possible. It says that, whenever possible, you should be brought up in your own family. If this can't happen then Social Services have to help you find somewhere else to live.
When you are looked after away from home, you should be placed somewhere suitable, after a lot of planning. However, sometimes decisions have to be made very quickly and your home might not be quite suitable.
When plans are being made, you should be asked what you want and your views should be listened to.
Some young people and children will be able to stay living with their families, with extra supervision. Sometimes, your family may ask for you to be placed into care temporarily.
Other young people will have to be taken to live somewhere else, even though their parents want them to be at home.
Your parents will still be an important part of your life. They will be asked about the decisions being made in your life, and will still have responsibiity until you're 18 years old. However, sometimes Social Services will be given parental responsibility. They will work with your parents to bring you up and make sure that you're safe, healthy and happy.
You might end up living in a care home, or in a foster family, and may have new children and young people to make friends with. Each home will have its own way of working, so you might have to learn to adjust, but people will be patient with you.
Sometimes, children and young people are able to move back in with their families. At other times, they might stay in care until they reach adulthood.
When you first enter the care system, a care plan should be made up for you. You can have a say in what it includes.
Your care plan will talk about:
Your day to day life.
What contact you should have with family or friends.
What school, college or work will be like.
How your health will be ensure.
How you'll have fun.
Your care plan should be checked regularly, and changes can be made if they need to be.
Your review is an important meeting where you can talk about what has happened to you, and what should happen in your future. You should have one within four weeks of being placed into care, and then another three months later. After that, you should have them every six months.
You should always be invited to your review. You can decide if you want to attend, and can choose someone to attend with you if you'd like.
You should always be asked for your views. If you don't want to attend, someone else can let people know what your views are.
Pocket Money
Every child or young person who is looked after gets pocket money. The amount depends on your age.
Your pocket money will be given weekly.
Leaving Care Allowance
Older young people who are working, or at college, will be entitled to an allowance which will have an element of pocket money.
Your social worker or leaving carer worker will advise you about your eligibility.
Clothing
If you live in a children's home or with foster carers there will be an allowance for you so that your carers can buy the clothes you need.
It is up to you and your carer to decide when the allowance is used. If you have a leaving care allowance there will be an element of this for buying clothes.
When you are looked after you should be assigned a Social Worker who can visit you regularly. Your Social Worker is there to help and advise you.
When you first move to a new home, your Social Worker should visit you at least every six weeks.
After the first year they should visit at least every three months.
If your Social Worker doesn't visit you regularly, you can complain about this. If you want to speak to the Social Worker's manager you can ask to do this.
Other people will be around to help and advise you, like your foster carer or keyworker in the children's home. There may be some people who you know through school, or clubs, who can help you, too.
If you'd like more help, you can apply for an independent visitor or an advocate to receive more help and support. They can help you if you're not happy, and make sure that you're listened to.
Young people who are looked after have the following rights.
- You have the right to free time, and to play time.
- You have the right to have your thoughts, feelings and wishes listened to when decisions are made.
- You have a right to live near your family. This might be difficult living with your family would compromise your safety, but it should always be the case that you're placed as close to your family as possible without putting you at risk.
- You have a right to be respected for who you are.
- You have a right to a care plan, and to regular reviews.
- You have a right to be safe.
- You have a right to be listened to.