Living in Care

Being in care means social workers find you somewhere to live and someone to look after you. This could be someone in your family. It could be someone you know yourself. Or it could be a foster carer or residential home. You need to be asked about whom you want to live with. Hopefully you will be staying with someone you want to stay with.

Being in care is sometimes frustrating and stressful, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be comfortable and happy while you are looked after. Always remember that you are not alone. Living away from your family may make you feel different, but there are many others like you and there’s always someone you can talk to if you ever have problem, no matter how large or small.

Children and young people are looked after away from home for lots of different reasons. Your own reasons will be special to you. The important thing is that you should know and understand these reasons. If you don’t, ask your social worker.

Social workers are there to make sure you are being looked after properly. It’s important to talk to your social worker and be honest about any problems you may have. Remember their job is to help you. Your social worker will come and see you often to see how you are and listen if you’re not happy. You’ll be able to talk to them on your own. They have to visit you within a week of you moving to a new place, then every six weeks for a year, then at least every three months. At a review meeting it might be decided that you can see them more often and you can ask for that if you want.

More Information

For more advice and assistance with living in care see the links below.