All children and young people who are looked after by the Council are there because, for some reason, their mum, dad, or the person who usually looks after them cannot look after them anymore. There are lots of reasons why they may not be able to look after you at the moment.
You need to know that there are two sorts of being looked after by the Council. These are being Accommodated and being In Care. If your Social Worker has not told you which of these you are then you should ask them.
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What does it mean to be 'Accommodated'?
If you are accommodated then the Council will organise for people to look after you and a place for you to live.
Your parents will still have the right to decide what happens to you. When you are accommodated the Council are helping your parents out.
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What does it mean to be 'In Care'?
If you are In Care this means that a court has made a Care Order to look after you. This means that we believe you are at risk of being harmed. If you are In Care then the Council will share parental responsibility with your parents.
Sometimes the Council may feel that to keep you safe they have to make decisions by themselves and not ask your parents what they want.
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Where will I live?
Whilst you are being looked after you will either live in a Children's Home or with foster carers in their family home.
For more information on this, take a look at the Where you are living page.
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How long will I be Looked After?
Sometimes young people only need to be looked after for a short time say, a week, a month, or even just a few days.
However, it can be for a longer time, maybe until you are 16 or even 18. The length of time that you will be looked after will depend on why you are there.
You should speak to your Social Worker or carers to talk about this more.
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How will I know what is going to happen to me?
When you start to be looked after by the Council we will sit down with you and talk about what is going to happen. This will be written down in a Care Plan.
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Your Care Plan is a written plan covering things like your religion, your health, where you live, contact with your family and friends, your education and how long you may be living away from home.
Your Care Plan is about you, so it is important that we ask you what you want and that you understand what the Plan means for you. If you disagree with the Plan you should talk to your Social Worker or carer. You could also contact the Children and Young People's Participation Team or the Customer Relations Team on 0800 9155501, email social.services.complaints@eastriding.gov.uk
You will be given a copy of your Care Plan.
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What is a Placement Plan?
This is a separate plan from your Care Plan. This plan is between you, your carers and your Social Worker, and sometimes your parents. On this form is written all the important things that need to be done while you are living in foster care or in a Children's Home. This form is an agreement between all of the people involved in your care about how they will look after you.
You will be given a copy of your Placement Plan.
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Religious and cultural needs
When you are looked after by the Council we will ask about your religious and cultural needs. For example, if you need to pray regularly, attend religious festivals, or if you have special dietary needs, then you need to let us know. We need to make sure these needs are met.
We will write these needs in your Care Plan and Placement Plan to make sure that everyone who is involved in looking after you knows what they are.
Your religious and cultural needs should be respected and looked after by foster carers, staff at the Children's Home, your Social Worker, your teachers, doctors and nurses and the people you live with. If you do not feel that these needs are being respected at anytime you should tell your Social Worker, staff at the home or your carer or parent, or you can talk to the Children and Young People's Participation Team. They will be able to give you help and support to sort the problem out, and if you want they will provide an advocate who will work with you.
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Whilst you are being looked after by the Council there will be meetings to talk about you and how you are getting on.
Here are some examples of meetings that will take place while you are being looked after:
- A meeting to set up your Care Plan and Placement Plan
- Review meetings to look at your care plan and see if we need to make any changes
- Meetings with your Social Worker - you will see your Social Worker regularly. They will make arrangements to come and visit you, however, if you want to see your Social Worker more often you just need to ask.
- Health Assessments - these are meetings held with your school nurse or nurse working with Looked After Children. These meetings are to make sure you keep healthy and to help you with any health concerns you may have.
- Meetings with your teachers and Social Worker to set up your Personal Education Plan (see the You and your school page for more info on your Personal Education Plan).
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What are all these meetings for?
We have meetings with you to make sure that you are getting the support you need. We want to check that things are working out for you. These meetings are called Looked After Children's (LAC) Review meetings. Your LAC review is a chance for you to tell us what you would like changing and what you would like to stay the same.
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How often will I have a Review?
Your first LAC review must be held within the first 4 weeks of you being looked after by the Council. The second LAC review must be 3 months after that and then every 6 months.
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Who can come to my Review?
Sometimes the Council will ask your parents to come to your LAC review. They may also ask your foster carers, teachers or doctor if they feel that they need to be there. Most importantly you should have some say in who will be there.
If having your parents there, or if any other person being there would worry you or make you feel uncomfortable then you must speak to your Social Worker or another adult beforehand. If you would like an advocate to come to your meetings and help you have your say then let your Social Worker know before the meeting and they will help you arrange this.
See Your Rights for more details about an advocate.
If you do not feel happy going to your LAC review on your own then you can ask a friend or relative to come along with you. If you want to do this, you need to tell your Social Worker before the meeting.
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Can I still have my say without actually going to my Review?
There are ways that you can have your say without going to your LAC review. You can do this by speaking to a Reviewing Officer on your own, writing a letter or by using a computer system called 'Viewpoint'.
For more information on having your say at your LAC Review speak to your Social Worker or carer or the Children and Young People's Participation Team.
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Do I have to go to my Review?
This meeting is about you and how you are being looked after so it would be good if you were there. However, nobody can make you go to your review. We want you to be at these meetings so that you can tell us how you feel and how you want to be looked after. You do not have to stay for the whole meeting if you do not want to. You can even chair your own meeting if you want. If you would like to do this speak to your Social Worker or carer or the Children and Young People's Participation Team.
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What happens after my LAC review?
You will be given a written copy of the notes made at the meeting. This may include things that need to happen in the future. If you are not happy or if you are confused by these notes you can ask your Social Worker or another adult to explain. If what was agreed at your review doesn't happen you should tell your Social Worker, carer, your parents or the Reviewing Officer. You don't have to wait until your next review to tell them if you're unhappy or confused. You can also contact the Children and Young People's Participation Team.
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What is a Reviewing Officer?
This person will be at your LAC review. They are there to make sure that you are being looked after properly and to try and find ways to sort things out. Although your Reviewing Officer works for the Council, they are independent of your Social Worker. Their job is to make sure that your views are heard and to support you. They will talk to you before the review to find out how you feel and what decisions you want made in the meeting. They will also help you if you want to chair your own meeting.
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When will I be old enough to leave care and live independently?
This will be sometime after you are 16, when you feel ready and prepared and have somewhere suitable to move on to.
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Where will I live?
The Pathway (Leaving Care) Team are available to help you sort this out. They will make sure that you are living in a safe and suitable place. For more information on places you can live when you leave care, take a look at the Where you are living section.
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What will happen when I leave care or live independently?
The Pathway Team get involved with all young people who are looked after from the age of 16 onwards and support them up to being 21 (or 24 if they go to University). At first you will have a Pathway team social worker, and later on will have a Care Officer or Personal Advisor. It is their job to give you advice and support to help you plan your future.
You can talk to your Personal Adviser about things like where you live, money, health, education, training and employment and contact with family and friends. Together you will plan what you are doing now and where you want to get to later on. The Plan you put together and agree is called your Pathway Plan and will be reviewed on a regular basis.
You can contact the Pathway Team by calling them on 01482 396666. They are based at 36 Flemingate, Beverley. If you don't know who to ask for just ask to speak to the duty officer.
Or if you would like to speak to another young person who has been through the leaving care process you could speak to someone from the Pathway Team focus group. Get in touch at focus.group@hotmail.co.uk
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