What happens when you become 'looked after'?

Being 'in care' or 'looked after' means the same thing. It’s when we make plans to make sure you are looked after and all your needs are met.

The council that looks after children and young people in care in an area. In this area, it’s Swindon Borough Council.

Your social worker makes sure your needs are being met and that you are safe and supported.

They will visit you during your first week of being looked after and then at least every six weeks for the first year. After that, visits might happen less often if you are happy and settled.

You might also hear about 'corporate parents'. This means all the people involved in looking after you, like your social worker, teachers, carers, or support staff. Their job is to make sure you are safe, happy and have everything you need.

IROs work for the council, but they are independent from your social worker. Their job is to make sure your care plan (which explains how you will be looked after) is working well and meeting your needs.

Here are some important things to know about IROs:

• Everyone in care must have an IRO
• If you have brothers or sisters in care, you will usually have the same IRO
• You should be able to contact your IRO whenever you need to
• You should never be without an IRO
• Your IRO should meet you in person before every review

Your placement is your home while you are in care and there are different types:

• Foster care: This is where you live with a carer who is not your family
• Children’s residential home: This is where you live with other young people who are looked after, and carers take care of you all
• Family and friends foster placement: This is where you are looked after by someone in your family, like an aunt or grandparent, or a family friend

A placement plan is a written plan about your day to day life and activities you do with your carers. You, your social worker and your carers all work together to make the plan.

A placement planning meeting is where everyone agrees on the plan. This meeting also listens to your views and decides who can give you permission to do things like go on sleepovers, school trips, or holidays with your carers.

A care plan explains how you will be looked after. You, your social worker and other important adults create this plan together.

It will change as you get older and your needs change. Your ideas and views are really important and will be listened to along the way.

A pathway plan is for young people aged 16 and over. It shows what help you will get as you get ready for adulthood.

Reviews are meetings to check how things are going for you and if anything needs to change.

Your views really matter. It’s good if you can go to these meetings to let everyone know how you are feeling, what’s going well, or if anything needs to change.

Reviews should happen at least every six months.

You will have a health assessment with a doctor or nurse once a year.

They will help you learn how to stay healthy. If it makes you feel more comfortable, your carer or a support person can come with you.

You can also choose if the health check happens at school or at home each time.