Being in Care

Are you a young person who is in care or left care? Do you have views about being in care that you want to let people know about?...

...Then you could get involved with the council for children looked after                                                                                                    

The council is for all young people in care. It is to make sure that directors of children's services and social care services can listen to the views of young people. The council does lots of different things, including:

• Holds regular meetings between young people in care and directors
• Runs events like 'open forums' for all children and young people in care to come and talk about what matters to them, meet others in care and do fun activities - see Mogozout for details of upcoming events
• Regularly checks the pledge to children and young people in care to make sure it is happening (see below for info about the pledge)

Examples of things the Council has achieved:

• Set up a buddy scheme so that when someone comes into care they can meet another young person with experience of being in care.
• Worked with the Virtual School and Hertfordshire Music Service to write, perform and record a song about being in care.
• Campaigned to improve contact between social workers and young people.
• Made things change so that no one has to change social worker in the run up to exams.
• Enabled young people to access Herts County Council sites.

If you'd like to get involved with the council, the Participation Workers would love to hear from you.

They can arrange to meet you to find out what you would like to do, whether it's meeting with the directors, helping to plan events or taking part in one of the projects. You can contact them on 01992 555180, or send an email to councilforchildrenincare@hertscc.gov.uk

For lots more information about the council visit the Participation Hub here.

The pledge to young people in care

The pledge is for all young people in care. It is about the things you can expect from Hertfordshire County Council's Children Schools and Families department. Everyone who helps look after you will do their best to make sure the things in the pledge happen. There are 10 statements in the pledge, and they are all based on things young people said were most important:

1. We will protect you and keep you safe
2. We will only share information about you if we are sure it is in your best interest to do so
3. We will listen to what you think when adults are making decisions about you
4. We will help you to keep in touch with family and friends as long as this is safe
5. We will help you have a book with all the important events and people in your life
6. We will make sure you have a social care worker. Your social care worker will do their best to spend time with you and make sure you are being looked after well
7. We will make sure you can take part in things you want to do
8. We will help you move into adulthood
9. We will listen to what you think about how to make being in care better for lots of children
10. We will advise you of what to do if any of your rights are not being upheld

Your social worker should give you a copy of the pledge. If you haven't received a booklet, contact your social care worker to request one or call a Participation Worker on 01992 555180. Or you can read or download a booklet below.

Get help with your transition from care:

The National Care Advisory Service (NCAS), supported by Catch22, is the national advice, support and development service focusing on young people's transition from care.

NCAS publications help young people in and from care find out what to expect when leaving care and help professionals to ensure that they provide young people with the best possible support.

These leaflets are available free of charge and you will be able to download PDFs from here.

Are you a young care leaver?

GETA - Guide to Emergency & Temporary Accommodation is a guide that has been produced to help care leavers gain information about emergency and temporary accommodation and understand what their housing rights are. The GETA guide is a 19 page colourful booklet that includes real life case studies of young people's experiences, housing rights and options, types of accommodation and valuable contacts.

Useful links:

www.hertschildren.org.uk/  Lots of useful info including money, getting help, being fostered, adopted and more

Info 4 Care Kids

Downloads:

Pledge to young people in care leaflet - ages 15 plus

Pledge to young people in care - ages 10 to 14

Young Person's Council- for all young people in care

Information for young care leavers - 2012