‘My time in care’ Instagram campaign
We launched a month-long Instagram campaign in January 2021 to support young people in foster care. The campaign is introduced by creative director and rapper, Ric Flo, and shows daily video posts from 9 care leavers. They tell you the most important things about being in foster care - like how to get settled on your first night, tips to deal with difficult emotions, and how you can have a say in important decisions.
My time in care
Here, we give you more information that you can read in your own time. If you’re following our campaign, pick a topic that’s mentioned in a post description. If you’re hearing about ‘My time in care’ for the first time, check it out on Instagram @my_time_in_care.
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The professionals
Get to know the people who are looking after you in care
You will have different adults working together to best support you. Remember, all these people are there for you! It helps to understand who they are, how they can help and when to turn to them if you have any problems. You can ask your social worker or foster carer(s) for each adult’s contact details if you don’t have them already. It’s a good idea to write them down or save them on your phone/ computer if you have one.
Read more by tapping an option below.
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Your social worker
Every young person in care has a Social Worker. Their job is to make sure you’re happy and well cared for. They’ll check in with you regularly to ask how you’re doing, if there’s anything you need and ask your views so they can make the right decisions about your life. You can speak to them about:
- Anything that is worrying you or you want to happen.
Where and when will I see them? Your social worker will visit you regularly in your foster home, but you can also meet them outside of the home - wherever you feel most comfortable. They should visit you during your first week after moving into your foster home. Then they’ll visit at least every 6 weeks during your first year and less often after that (between every 3-6 months). You can ask to see them more often if you like. If you’re not happy with how you’re being cared for, you can make a complaint.
How can I contact them? You can call, text, email and arrange to meet them.
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Your foster carer’s social worker
Your foster carer(s) have their own social worker who supports them to take care of you in the best way. They are also there to help you and to make sure you are happy. You can speak to them about:
- Anything that is worrying you or you want to happen in the home.
Where and when will I see them? You’ll mostly see them when they visit your foster home, but you may also see them in meetings that are about your care (e.g. a ‘Children Looked After’ (CLA) review).
How can I contact them? You can call, text, email and arrange to meet them.
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Your Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO)
Your IRO makes sure that everyone involved in your care is doing their best to take care of you and that the decisions being made are the right ones for you. They will make sure your views are heard and that the things that are important to you are acted on. You can speak to them about:
- Anything that is worrying you or you want to happen.
- Something that isn’t going right in your care. They will help you to stand up for your rights and find solutions to the problem. They can also help you to make a complaint if needed.
Where and when will I see them? You’ll mostly see them during meetings about your care called ‘Children Looked After’ (CLA) reviews - they run the meeting. But you can also speak to your IRO outside of your meetings. Some young people arrange to meet them before a meeting to get their help to say the things that are important to them.
How can I contact them? You can call, text, email and arrange to meet them.
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Your Advocate or Children’s Rights Officer
An advocate or Children’s Rights Officers are people who are there to listen to you and make sure that what's important to you is spoken about in meetings and outside of your meetings. They can also help you to understand your rights and entitlements in care (e.g. money for school trips). You might find it easier turning to them with a problem because they are less involved with your care. If you would like an advocate, ask your foster carer(s) or social worker and they can arrange this for you. There are also advocacy charities that you can contact for free help. We tell you more about them in ‘Charities’. You can speak to them about:
- Anything that is worrying you or you want to happen.
- Something that isn’t going right in your care. They will help you to stand up for your rights and find solutions to problems. They can also help you to make a complaint if needed.
Where and when will I see them? You’ll mostly see them in meetings about your care called ‘Children Looked After’ (CLA) reviews - they are there on your invite and can help you say what’s on your mind. You can also meet them before a meeting so they can make sure that what's important to you is discussed, or whenever you have a question or something you want to talk about.
How can I contact them? You can call, text, email and arrange to meet them.
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Your Mentor or Independent visitor
Mentors or Independent visitors volunteer to support you. They will listen and help you as a friend. You might find it easier turning to them with a problem because they are not involved in your day to day care. If you would like a mentor, ask your foster carer(s) or social worker and they can arrange this for you. You can:
- Speak to them about anything that is worrying you or you want to happen.
- Spend time together with them like with a friend, for example, playing sports together or going to the cinema.
Where and when will I see them? You’ll mostly see them outside of your foster home, but you can also invite them to your meetings about your care called ‘Children Looked After’ (CLA) reviews. Sometimes it can help to have a friendly face in the room to make it easier for you to speak up.
How can I contact them? You can call, text, email and arrange to meet them.
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Your support teachers
You will have a headteacher and one or more support teachers to help you in school. Their job is to make sure you are happy in school, and that you have everything you need to do well and get ready for your next steps. You can speak to them about:
- Anything that is worrying you or you want to change in your care whether inside or outside of school. You may find it easier to turn to them as they are less involved in your day to day care.
Where and when will I see them? You’ll see them in school and during meetings where you sit together to talk about how you’re doing in school and how they can help you take your next steps. These meetings are called ‘Personal Educational Plan’ (PEP) meetings, and they’ll happen every few months. You can also ask your support teachers to be in your ‘Children Looked After’ (CLA) meetings to review your care. Sometimes it can help to have a friendly face in the room to make it easier for you to speak up.
How can I contact them? You can speak to them anytime during school. They might give you an email address or another way of contacting them outside of school.
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Health professionals
You will have a local doctor, called a GP who will help you when you are feeling unwell. Some people also have a nurse who can help when you are worried about your health. You can see them about:
- Any health problem - whether it’s something physical like a headache, or if you need help because you’re feeling anxious, sad or angry. They can help you to manage your emotions, for example, they can arrange counselling sessions.
Where and when will I see them? Every person in care aged 5 years and older will see their GP or nurse for a yearly check-up, but you can see them as often as you need.
How can I contact them? Your social worker or foster carer(s) can make an appointment for you or you can make one yourself.
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Helpful questions
Read a list of helpful questions to ask your foster carers when settling in
Moving into a foster home can be a difficult time as there are a lot of changes happening at once. Asking the right questions can help you feel more settled. It can help you get to know the home, the family and where you fit in. Here are some of the questions that our care leavers (young people who have previously been in care) asked their foster carers when moving in.
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Questions about the family routine
- What time should I be getting up/ going to bed?
- What time do we eat and where?
- How often do other family members visit?
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Questions about your personal things
- Where can I put my personal things?
- How can I access WiFi?
- Can I use my mobile phone upstairs?
- Do I get pocket money and how often?
- Do I get money to buy clothes and toiletries, and how often?
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About household chores
- What chores have I got to do and when do I need to do them?
- Where do I put my dirty laundry/ clean clothes?
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About household rules
- When can I watch TV?
- Is it OK to flush the toilet during the night?
- Is it OK to get food/ drink from the kitchen when I want?
- What happens if I do something wrong - how will I be punished?
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Questions about what you can do in your own time
- How can I carry on my hobbies?
- Do I get any money to do my hobbies?
- When can I go out?
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Questions about contact with friends and family
- Can I have friends over to stay the night?
- How can I see my friends and family?
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Charities
Find out which charities can help you and how to get in touch with them
Charities can give you information about being in care or help you with a problem or worry. Sometimes it can feel easier to talk to someone who isn’t involved in your care. They have specially trained people who will listen and give you advice without judging. They won’t tell anyone about your chat unless they are worried about your safety and need to help you further.
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Charities that help you with your care, like making a complaint or learning your rights
The charities below can answer your questions about being in care. They have ‘advocates’ who will help you if something isn’t going right - to solve problems and help you make a complaint if needed. They make sure your voice is heard and that you’re involved in the decisions that are made about your life.
1. Coram Voice - get advice, information about your rights and for help to get an ‘Advocate’:
- Call their free ‘Always heard’ helpline on 0808 800 5792 (Mon - Fri 9.30am - 6.00pm).
- Visit the Coram Voice website to read more about their support and helpful information
2. National Youth Advocacy Service - get advice, information about your rights and for help to get a ‘Mentor/ Independent visitor’ (a volunteer who can support you as a friend):
- Call their free helpline on 0808 808 1001 (Mon - Fri 9.00am - 8.00pm, Sat - Sun 10.00am - 4.00pm
- Visit the National Youth Advocacy Service website to read more about their support and helpful information.
3. Children’s Commissioner ‘Help at hand’ service - get advice, information about your rights, and support to leave care
- Call their free helpline on 0800 528 0731 (Mon - Fri 9.00am - 5.00pm).
- Email [email protected] with a question. They will usually answer within 1-2 days.
- Visit the Children’s Commissioner website o read more about their support and helpful information.
4. Become - get advice, information about your rights, and support to leave care:
- Call their free advice line on 0800 023 2033 (Mon - Fri 10.00am - 5.00pm)
- Email [email protected] with a question. They will usually answer within 1-2 days.
- Visit the Become website to read more about their support and helpful information.
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Charities that help you with anything that is worrying you like dealing with difficult emotions or bullying
The charities below help all children and young people and not just those who are in care.
1. Childline - get advice about anything that is worrying you 24/7
- Call their free advice line on 0800 1111 (available 24/7).
- Chat with a counsellor online on their website (Mon - Sun 7.30am - 3:30am).
- Visit the Childline website to read more about their support and helpful information.
2. YoungMinds - speak to an adult who will listen and help you 24/7
- Text YM to 85258, a free YoungMinds Crisis messenger service (available 24/7) and they will connect you with someone you can speak to.
- Visit the YoungMinds website to read more about their support and helpful information.
3. Kooth app - join a free online mental wellbeing community and speak to an adult who will listen and help you. Anyone aged 11-24 can sign up at www.kooth.com to:
- Message or live chat with an adult to get advice or help with anything that is worrying you (Mon - Fri - 12pm - 10pm, Sat - Sun - 6pm - 10pm).
- Start or join a conversation with other young people.
- Read articles, personal experiences and tips from young people
- Track your feelings and personal goals.
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Meditation apps
Use free meditation apps to help you deal with difficult emotions
We all have times when we feel anxious, angry or sad. It can feel even more difficult when there are a lot of changes happening in your life. Every person has different ways of managing during these times, like doing activities or spending time with a friend. Some people find it helpful to use meditation or calming exercises. You can download the apps below free of charge:
- Breethe app has guided meditations and music to help you sleep better, and feel happier and more relaxed. IMOHub gives people in care and care leavers a 1-year free subscription to Breethe. Visit their website to find out how you can claim this freebie.
- Calm & Headspace also have guided meditations, mindfulness exercises and sleep stories. Basic sessions are free but you need to pay a monthly or yearly fee to unlock more sessions.
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‘Children in care’ council
Find your local group to meet other young people in care
Many young people in care find it helpful to meet other people who are also in care. Get started by checking if there is a ‘Children in care’ group in your local area. You can join regular meetings to get advice about your care or simply to have a chat and get to know people living in your area. They also give you the chance to have your say in decisions that are made by the local government about young people in care.
Ask your social worker if there is a ‘Children in care’ council in your area and how you can join. If you live in England, you can also search online by entering your postcode on the IMOhub website.
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Important documents
Get to know the important documents that are about you and your time in care
Anything that is discussed in your meetings or any decisions that are made about your life are written down. It’s helpful to know what these documents are called and how you can give your views on them. You are allowed to have a copy of each document - ask your social worker if you want this. Tap an option below to read more.
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‘Care plan’
Your Care plan has important information about your care, like why your foster home was chosen for you, and what is being done to keep you happy and safe. It explains different areas of your life like your health, education or relationships. For example, if you want to start a new hobby, your plan will show how the adults around you are making this happen. If you’re not happy about something in your plan or you want to get involved in a decision:
- Talk to your social worker - they organise your Care Plan.
- Talk to another professional like your advocate or Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO).
- Bring it up in meetings about your care, called ‘Children Looked After’ reviews.
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‘Personal Education Plan’ (PEP)
Your PEP is all about your life in school and your plans for after school. It explains what is being done for you to do well in school. For example, if you want to study a new subject in school, your plan will show what is being done to make this happen and who is in charge of doing this. If you’re not happy about something in your plan or you want to get involved in a decision:
- Talk to your social worker or your support teachers - they organise your PEP plan.
- Bring it up during meetings in school, called PEP reviews.
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Your ‘Health Action Plan’
Your ‘Health Action Plan’ explains what needs to happen for you to keep physically and mentally healthy. For example, if you are feeling anxious or sad, your plan will explain what is being done to help you and who is doing it (e.g. arranging counselling sessions). If you’re not happy about something in your plan or you want to get involved in a decision:
- Talk to your social worker or nurse (if you have one) - they organise your Health Action Plan.
- Talk to another professional like your advocate or Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO).
- Bring it up in meetings about your care, called ‘Children Looked After’ reviews.
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Complaints
Learn how to make a complaint and how advocacy charities can help you
Most problems in care can be sorted out by talking to an adult who is looking after you. Here are some of the things our care leavers did when they had a problem with their care:
- Arrange to meet a professional or write down your thoughts in an email or letter that you can give to them. You can go to whoever you feel most comfortable with, like your social worker or even a teacher in school. Remember that your ‘Advocate’ and ‘Independent Reviewing Officer’ (IRO) are there to listen to you and help you solve problems in care.
- Bring up the problem in a meeting about your care like ‘Children Looked After’ or ‘Personal Education Plan’ (PEP) meetings. It might help to write down what you want to say and read it out loud in the meeting, or ask an adult to do this for you.
- Call a free advocacy charity helpline (tap ‘Charities’ from the list at the top of the page for details). They will listen and give advice about any problem.
If you’ve tried to talk to the adults looking after you and you’re still not happy with how the problem has been dealt with, you can make a complaint. Don’t be afraid to take the further steps below and go higher if you need to. Your complaint could be about a person involved in your care or the organisation they work for. Here we explain the steps that you need to follow to make a complaint:
- Get help to make a complaint - ask your ‘Advocate’, ‘Independent Reviewing Officer’ (IRO) or an advocacy charity (tap ‘Charities’ from the list at the top of the page for details). They can explain and help you take the next steps.
- Write and send a written complaint - once you have done this, you will usually get a letter from a manager within two weeks. It will tell you what they are doing to look into your complaint and what happens next. If you’re not happy with their decision, move to Step 3.
- Have your complaint reviewed - this means that a new person will look at your complaint and how it has been managed. They will write a letter with their decision and what happens next. Most complaints don’t need to go any further, but if you’re not happy with what’s been done, move to Step 4.
- Have your complaint reviewed by a panel or ombudsman - this means that people outside of the organisation will look at your complaint and how it has been managed. They will make a final decision on the next steps.
You can also make a complaint to ‘Ofsted’ to make sure your care organisation is following the rules. Ofsted looks after all the fostering services in the UK. Get in touch by calling 0300 123 4666 or emailing [email protected].
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Rights & entitlements
See a full list of your rights and entitlements in care
Knowing your rights and entitlements may help you to make some changes and get the support you need in school and at home. Every young person has basic rights and entitlements like the right to an education and free schooling. But when you’re in care, there are other rights that you should know. We have listed these below. You can ask your social worker, advocate or Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO) to explain them further. You can also read more in your own time on these charity websites:
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The right to feel happy in your foster home, to feel you belong and to be treated as a member of the family
The right to be given a place to live where you feel safe and happy.
The right to feel safe and secure and have your basic needs met.
The right to feel happy and to feel you belong.
The right to be treated as a member of the family and be loved and cared for.
The right to have privacy for yourself and your personal belongings in your foster home.
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The right to be supported by professionals and have regular contact with them
The right to have a social worker to care for you and make sure your needs are met.
- The right to have a ‘Care plan’ that includes what you need to feel happy and safe, and how this is being done.
- The right to meet your social worker regularly - at least every 6 weeks for the first year, then no less than every 3-6 months.
The right to have an Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO) who makes sure that everyone is doing their best to take care of you.
The right to have an Advocate or Children’s Rights Officer to make sure your rights are respected and your views are heard.
The right to have an Independent Visitor to give you support, friendship and mentorship.
The right to support when you need it from the adults caring for you, and to know who you can turn to day or night.
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The right to be heard and listened to - to have meetings where you can talk about your feelings, wishes and opinions
The right to have your say and be listened to.
The right to bring up your views and be involved in the decisions that are made about your care.
The right to have ‘Children Looked After’ (CLA) reviews where you can bring up any issues and have them discussed without it affecting your care in a negative way.
- The right to have a say in who is in your CLA reviews.
- The right to have a CLA review within 4 weeks of moving into your foster home, and then at least every 6 months.
- The right to have your best interests brought up in CLA reviews by an advocate or other professional.
- The right to speak with professionals before a CLA review to make sure your voice is heard or to get help to raise an issue.
- The right to run your own CLA review meeting.
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The right to speak up when something’s not right and to make a complaint without it affecting your care in a negative way
The right to get help to bring up an issue or make a complaint with the help of an adult like an advocate, IRO, or an advocacy charity.
The right to ask for a change in any of the adults taking care of you or to improve the way they take care of you
The right to say where you want to live or ask for a placement change with your social worker if things are not working.
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The right to know why you’re in care and how long you’ll be there
The right to know why you’re in care and what is going on with your family.
The right to see the files and information (written and electronic) Children’s Services or fostering agencies have about you.
- They should give you information about the rules - how long it will take to get your files ready and if you need any support while looking at your files.
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The right to keep connected with your family, friends and the things you care about
The right to stay connected with the things that are important to you and your identity (e.g.your religion), and have these considered when decisions are made about you.
The right to have contact with the important people in your life, including parents, siblings, and close friends if it’s safe to do this.
The right to continue doing the hobbies you enjoy
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The right to support in school
The right to have a ‘Personal Educational Plan’ and meetings to talk about what needs to happen for you to do well in school.
The right to be supported by teachers in school so you can feel happy and do well in school.
The right to financial help for your education from your Local Authority - this includes bursaries and pupil premium (free school meals, travel to school, school trip fees, educational aids e.g. iPad, books).
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The right to have your health needs met
The right to have your mental and physical health needs met and written down in a ‘Health action plan’.
The right to a health assessment every year for ages 5+.
The right to say how you feel and to get mental health and other support.
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The right to financial support for daily living
Your foster carers will get money from your Local Authority for your daily needs. How much they will get depends on where you live. Ask your foster carer(s) or social worker for more details. All young people in care have:
- The right to pocket money
- The right to money for clothes and essential items (for example, toiletries)
- The right to money for leisure and hobbies
- The right to money for special occasions (for example, birthdays and Christmas).
- The right to a ‘Junior Savings’ account with £200 from the government if you are in care for more than 12 months. You won’t be able to use this money until you are over 18.
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