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1. Can I be sent to live in a completely different area? 2. Who will be told where I am living when I become looked after? |
1. Can I be sent to live in a completely different area?
Yes, this does sometimes happen. But it is a very serious decision to move a child to a new area, so unless you are going to live with someone you already know or a foster carer approved by your local authority, only a senior person chosen by the Director of Children’s Services can make the decision for you to live outside your area.
Before making this decision they have to make sure that:
- This is the best possible placement for you and can meet all the needs in your care plan
- They have asked you what your wishes and feeling are and thought about what you want
- They ask what your family think about this (unless there is a reason why they should not be asked, for example if a court has said it’s not safe for you to have contact with them)
- They tell the children’s social care services in the area you go to live in
- They ask your IRO for their views.
Your social worker and parents must go with you to visit this placement before a final decision is made. This is to make sure that you know as much as possible about the placement before you tell the social worker what you think about it.
If this placement is made in an emergency then they still have to be sure it is the best possible placement for you and ask you about your wishes and feelings. They can have up to 5 days to ask your family what their views are, to tell the children’s services in the area where you will be living and to tell your IRO.
2. Who will be told where I am living when I become looked after?
Before you go to live in your first placement, and any placement after that, your social worker has to write to the following people, unless telling them would mean that you were not safe:
- Your parents or carers.
- If you are already looked after, any person who is allowed to have contact with you.
- Anyone was caring for you just before you went to your new placement.
- The following people will always be told where you are if you go to live in a new placement:
- The Health Authority (local organisation in charge of health services) where you come from and the one where you will be living, if this is different.
- Your doctor and the doctor you will have at your new placement if you move to a new area.
- The person in charge of your education (usually that will be your school).
- Your Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO)
