A guide for Young People - Open Objects Software Ltd

1 A guide for Young People Coming into care This pack is for you, it has information about your rights and helps you to ask or answer any questions you might have. You have been given this pack as you have recently come into care (also called looked after') which means that Hounslow are responsible for making sure you are safe. You might be feeling lots of things right now. Other Young People in care in Hounslow have felt the same and we wanted to make sure that you had information to help you understand what is happening. Why have I. been taken into care? Young People come into care for lots of different reasons, it might be because things have become too difficult or dangerous at home. It might be because your mum or dad aren't coping so well or are not able to look after you.

2 As everyone's story is different, ask your social worker for the reasons why you came into care. If you are struggling to understand, ask them to write it down and have someone you trust go through it with you. You have the right to understand and question decisions that are made about your life. Is this forever? The time that Young People spend in care is different for everyone. Your social worker will explain to you what is happening, ask what you are feeling and what you would like to happen in the future. All of the adults in your life will be working together with you and your family to decide what is best. This could mean going back home, moving to another carer or family member or staying where you are.

3 It is really important that you speak up for what you want to adults you trust if you feel you can. Who will be looking after me? The People who look after you can be People in your family or People new to you (called foster carers). Whoever you are living with have been chosen to look after you. They are responsible for keeping you safe, helping you feel welcome and comfortable in your new home. What is a social worker? Every Young person in care has a social worker. Your social worker is there to listen to you, and make sure that how you feel is taken seriously. They will also be talking to your family, the People who are looking after you and other important adults in your life. They will help make decisions with you and your family about what is going to happen in the future.

4 Sometimes social workers will have to make decisions that you may not like, they should always listen to you and explain why that decisions has been made. What about seeing my family? For some Young People being away from their family is really painful. Your brothers and sisters may have come into care with you or be living in a different place. You have a right to decide if you see your family unless there is a very good reason for you not to. Seeing your family is often called contact' and it can describe lots of different things writing a letter to an aunt, calling a brother or seeing your mum face to face. Any time you spend with your family is contact. Your social worker should ask about your feelings on your contact and help to make it right for you.

5 What about my friends? Most People have friends that they want to stay in touch with when they move. Just because you have come into care doesn't mean things have to change. You can still spend time with your friends, have sleepovers and the usual stuff, just within the house rules of where you are living. You may have moved to a new area and as well as helping you stay in contact with old friends your carers can give you a hand to make new ones. Can I still do the activities I enjoy? Your carers will want to know from you about what you like to do this may be playing sport, dancing, reading, listening to or playing music. They will help you take part in things you enjoy and you might get to try new activities too.

6 What about my school? Most Young People will still go to the same school. If you are going to stay with your carer for a long time and your school is far away, you may change to a new school. You should be asked how you feel about this. Your teacher will know about you being in care, but it's your choice if you tell your friends. Your teacher will meet with you and your social worker to make sure school are doing everything that you need. Who are all these People ? Your social worker: A social worker is someone who helps to make decisions to keep you safe. They will talk to you, your family and other adults in your life. They help to create a plan that is especially for you, called a care plan, which describes what things will happen in the future, what your contact looks like and anything you might need.

7 My social worker is: Your IRO: This means Independent Reviewing Officer. You will see them twice a year at a meeting called a LAC review. This is a meeting where you and the adults around you, come together and your social worker talks about your care plan and any changes that need to be made. An IRO is someone you can talk to if you don't like any decisions that have been made. My IRO is: Who are all these People ? Children's Guardian: Not every Young person has a guardian. Sometimes when adults can't agree where you should live, they go to court. At court, there is a judge who will listen to everyone and make a decision about who should look after you. To make sure that what you want is told to the judge, there is someone called a children's guardian.

8 They are just for you and will ask you about what you want and what makes you happy. They tell the judge what you have told them and what they think is best for your future. Ask your social worker if you have a guardian. Contact supervisor: Someone who comes with you to see your family. They might collect you and take you back to your carers. They are someone you can trust and talk to when you are with your family. What are all these meetings? Placement agreement meeting This is the first meeting as soon as you move into care. This meeting is with you, your social worker and your new carer. Whenever you move home you should have one of these meetings. This meeting is where you can ask important questions like: What time can I stay up until?

9 Can I help myself to food in the kitchen? You will talk about house rules and it can help you to feel comfortable, asking anything you are worried about. What are all these meetings? Personal Education Plan (PEP). This is a meeting with you, your social worker and your school to talk about your education and how everyone can work together so you can do well. It happens every six months at your school. LAC Review This is a meeting run by your IRO. It happens every six months and it is a chance to look at the plan for you (now and the future) and whether it is still right. It is important to go to your LAC review and tell People how you feel about your plan, what you like and what might need to change.

10 What about my stuff? Anything that is important to you, you should be able to bring or ask your social worker to collect. Your carers can keep things safe for you if you ask them. You can keep your important paperwork with this pack. Your carer will make sure you have everything you need, they will save money for you and make sure that you have pocket money in a way that works for you. What about my health? When you first come into care you will see a nurse for a health check. This is called your LAC medical. This is just to see how you are doing and how we can help. Your carer will make sure you are healthy and going to all those boring appointments What if I am unhappy? Life is difficult and sometimes we all feel unhappy or angry.