Information for children under eight

• What is a foster carer?
• Where will my foster home be?
• What will my foster home be like?
• Who else will live in my foster home?
• Can I bring my things with me?
• Will I get pocket money?
• Will I still be able to go to school and see my friends?
• Will my foster carer know what I like?
• When will I see my family?
• How long will I have to stay?
• How will people treat me in my foster home?
• What will my social worker do?
• What information is held about me?
• What if I'm not happy in my foster home?
• What if I have a problem?
• Who will stand up for me?
• Who can I turn to for help?

This page is for children who live in foster homes and are looked after by Plymouth children's services. It will give you lots of information about what foster care is like and who you can turn to for help.

Plymouth Fostercare has something called a statement of purpose about what we aim to do for you. This is:

• to make sure we have enough foster carers for all the children who need them
• to make sure you are looked after properly so that you are safe, happy, healthy and can do well at school
• to help you keep in touch with people important to you wherever possible
• to make sure we think about all your needs (including things like the language you speak, your religion, your ethnic origin and any disabilities you may have)

We will do this by helping your foster carer look after you. Your social worker will also be there for you. Remember, you are a very important person and there are lots of people who care about you.

A yellow folder called the A-Z guide for looked after children and young people lives in your foster home. This has more information about foster care and lists all your rights.

What is a foster carer?

Foster carers are special people who have been carefully chosen to look after children. When a child cannot live with their own family, they can move into a foster home where they will be safe. Foster carers do all the things parents do such as setting ground rules and helping you go to school.

Children live in foster homes for all sorts of reasons - it’s not because of anything you’ve done.

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Where will my foster home be?

Foster carers live all over Plymouth and your social worker will tell you exactly where you are going. It may be somewhere you've never been before, but it shouldn’t be too far from the area you already know.

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What will my foster home be like?

Foster carers live in all kinds of homes. Whether your foster home is a house, flat or bungalow, it is somewhere you will be safe.

Your social worker will look for the best possible foster home for you, for example one you can share with your brothers and sisters if you have any. Your foster carer could be a friend or relative you already know, or it could be someone new.

You might have your own room or you might have to share with other children, but you will always have somewhere to put your things.

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Who else will live in my foster home?

Foster carers live in family homes and all families are different. You may have one or two foster carers. You may be the only child or your foster carers may have their own children. There might be other children like you, who cannot live with their own families. Some foster carers have pets too.

Your social worker will tell you all about your foster family before you arrive. You should also get to meet them before you move in.

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Can I bring my things with me?

You can bring your toys and things - tell your social worker exactly what you need. Some foster carers will even let you take a small pet, if you have one!

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Will I get pocket money?

Yes - ask your social worker how much you will get. Your foster carer will also buy things like new clothes when you need them.

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Will I still be able to go to school and see my friends?

Your foster carer and social worker know how important it is for you to go to school and see your friends. They will do their best to make sure you can go to the same school and see your friends even though you live in a different house.

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Will my foster carer know what I like?

When you arrive, your foster carer will ask what you like and try to make you feel at home.

After you move in there will be a special meeting where you can tell them all about yourself - what you like to eat, your favourite games, hobbies and anything else that’s important to you.

Your foster carer will also explain how their family likes to do things, as some things may be a little different from your own family.

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When will I see my family?

Just because you live in a foster home doesn't mean you have to lose touch with your family. Your foster carer understands how important your family is to you.

Your social worker will speak with you about when you can see your family and how often. Tell them who you want to stay in touch with so they can see if this can happen.

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How long will I have to stay?

Your social worker will explain the plan for you. This is called your 'care plan' and includes everything that's important to you such as your school, health, and when you see your family and friends. Tell your social worker if there's anything in your care plan that you don't like, as they might be able to change it.

Your social worker wants to help you move back home with your family if this is possible, but you will be welcome in a foster home for as long as you need.

If you ever feel scared about your future, tell your social worker and they will do everything they can to help.

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How will people treat me in my foster home?

There are certain ways you should be treated no matter what. These are called your 'rights'.

• You have the right to be safe, secure and protected.
• You have the right for adults to listen to you and treat you equally and fairly.
• You have the right to information, advice, healthcare and an education.
• You have the right to enjoy your religion and culture.
• If you have a disability, you have the right to any help you need with it.
• You have the right to know why you live in a foster home and when you'll next see your family.

Please don't be shy about speaking up if someone takes away any of your rights.

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What will my social worker do?

Your social worker is someone who likes children and works for children's services. It is their job to make sure you're okay, so you should think of them as someone who is here to help.

Your social worker will visit you regularly and talk to you about everything that's happening in your life. They care about you and you can talk to them about anything you're confused or worried about.

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What information is held about me?

Because you live with a foster carer, we have to keep information about you to make sure we look after you properly. This is kept private and you have a right to see this information. Please tell your foster carer or social worker if you want to see the information we keep about you.

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What if I'm not happy in my foster home?

A month after you move in there will be a meeting called a 'Review', where all the important adults in your life will get together to talk about the plan for you, a bit like parents evening at school.

Before your Review you will be given a booklet to fill in, with questions about how you're getting on and whether there's anything you'd like to change in your foster home, school or anything else. The adults will use this to find out how you're feeling and see if they can do anything to make you more happy.

If you stay in your foster home for longer, more Review meetings will take place every few months so there will be lots of chances to speak up. If you have any worries in between, you can talk to your social worker or contact the person in charge of your Review meetings:

• phone 01752 306340
• send an email to iro@plymouth.gov.uk
• use your mobile to send a text to 07795 020994

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What if I have a problem?

We want to know if you have any problems at all, whether you're worried about something in your foster home or if you just don't like the food your foster carer gives you.

We'd also like you to tell us if things are going really well for you!

There are lots of ways you can make a complaint or tell us what you think:

• talk to your foster carer, social worker, teacher or any other adult who's important to you
• contact social services' complaints team by phoning 0800 0681249
• sending an email to complaints.social.services@plymouth.gov.uk
• filling in and posting the Contact Card given to you with your 'Foster care for me' handbook

Your foster carer is not allowed to hurt you in any way, and nor is anyone else. If you are worried about anything at all, please don't be afraid to speak up as there are lots of people who care about you and want to help.

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Who will stand up for me?

Your social worker will ask you if you would like to see an Advocate. If you say yes then the Advocate will visit you to ask about how things are going. They will also help you fill in a booklet about how you’re getting on and whether you would like to change anything. When all the important adults in your life get together to talk about the plan for you, your Advocate will show them the booklet and tell them what you want to happen.

We have arranged for Barnardo’s, a charity independent of the council to provide trained Advocates to listen to children.  You can contact them directly on 01752 564572.

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Who can I turn to for help?

• You can talk to anyone you trust such as your social worker, teacher, family or friends.
• If you feel you can't talk to anyone you know, you can phone Childline on 0800 1111.
• If you want to contact social services outside of their normal working hours of 9am to 5pm Monday to Thursday, and 9am to 4pm Friday, then you can call the out-of-hours team on 01752 346984.
• An organisation called OFSTED makes sure we are looking after children properly. You are also welcome to contact them on 0300 123 1231 or send them an email at enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk

The above information can be provided to Looked After Children in different languages or formats on request.

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