Information for looked after children - Why am I being looked after

Why children are looked after

There are many reasons for a young person being looked after. Mostly, it is because social services and your family agree that it is the best way to support you. There can be many reasons for this. It might be that your family need help because of illness, because living with your own family just wasn't working or because people are worried about your safety. 

• Where there is an agreement between your parents and social services, being looked after is described as a voluntary agreement. This is called being accommodated.   

If you are 16 or 17 years old, you can ask social services for help without your parents permission and they may accommodate you if that is the right way to help. 

• Young people are also looked after because the courts decide that it would be the best thing to happen. This happens when the court feels that you may be in some danger or at risk of harm. When this happens, the court makes a Care Order.   

Whatever the reason, social services should tell you why you are looked after. 

If you are reading this and you are already being looked after, quite a few things would have happened already. At the beginning everything can be very confusing and sometimes a bit scary. Sometimes there is no time to plan properly because everything is like an emergency. That can make it hard for you to know what's happening, but you should have had: 

An assessment. This is when social services talk to you and your family and others about what help you need. Wherever possible, social services try to find help so you can stay at home. If you cannot stay at home you become 'looked after'. 

A placement agreement. This is an agreement between you, social services and the people who are caring for you. The agreement covers things like rules of the house, the food you like and the things you like to do. It will also cover things like your pocket money and other allowances. 

A care plan. This is a document which social services uses work out how best to support you. It will state why you are looked after, where you are living, who you want to see (such as family and friends) and how long you will be looked after for. It will also say what your long-term plans are. 

Reviews. These are regular meetings that will happen until you leave care. When you first come into care, you should have a review within three to four weeks of being looked after. 

After three months, you will have another review to make sure you are being supported properly. 

After that, you will have a review every six months. 

These are your meetings, so make sure you know all about them. It is your regular opportunity to make sure that everyone knows how you feel about where you are living and the things that are important to you like your health, education and seeing friends and family. 

When you first come into care, social workers usually have to find somewhere for you to live at very short notice. This means you will be placed in foster care or in a children's home while better, more permanent plans are made. Your social worker will talk to you about where you would most like to live. 

Social services try as hard as they can to make sure you can stay in Hammersmith & Fulham because it means that there will be fewer changes in your life. Sometimes the support you need cannot be found in your area and you may have to move away. Talk to your social worker if you are worried about any of this and they will explain things to you. 

Getting help. It is a difficult time when you come into care and there will be many questions you will want to ask. Talk to your social worker if you have questions or worries. It is their job to listen and explain things. You can also contact the Children's Rights Service. 

Your social worker may have given you a direct number for when you need to phone. You can also try social services reception on freephone 0800 358 8485. 

For the Children's Rights Service call freephone 0500 235844. 

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