BARNSLEY COUNCILS

AND YOUNG PEOPLE IN CARE

PLEDGE TO OUR CHILDREN

BARNSLEY
Metropolitan Borough Council

Barnsley Councils pledge to our children and young people in care

Policy Statement
We want to support all children in care to your full potential. Because of this, care and commitment that any good want to support you to have high aspirations for yourselves. parent would have for their own child. to be happy and healthy and to achieve we aim to look after you with the same We have high aspirations for you, and we

1. We will look after you in a safe and caring home 2. We will promote, support, and respect your identity 3. We will ensure that you receive a good education 4. We will support you to be healthy 5. We will prepare you for adulthood 6. We will involve you in making it happen

We want the services supporting you ensure that you have as much opportunity as all other children.

whilst you grow up to work together to

We know that being in care and leaving care means that some things are different for you and that this may sometimes be difficult. We will try our

best to make sure that during your time life as your friends who are not in care. We also know that sometimes we will get things wrong, and we are always looking to do things better. We will you think is important to us.

in care you are able to have as normal a

listen to you and help you to be involved in how we care for you, because what We believe you are entitled to high Because of this we have made the expect from us.

quality care whilst we are looking after following promises about what you can

you and quality support as a care leaver.

B A R N S L E Y C O U N C I L S

PLEDGE

TO

OUR

CHILDREN

AND

YOUNG

PEOPLE

IN

CARE

1. We will look after you in a safe and caring home

This means we will: 1.1 Do our best to provide you with a high home which is in or very close to reason for not doing so. quality foster placement or residential Barnsley, unless there is a good welfare 1.2 Do all that we can to place you with time, unless there is a good welfare reason not to. 1.3 Make sure that, wherever you are to help you feel safe.

any brothers or sisters you have who

are also coming into care at the same

2. We will promote, support and respect your identity

This means we will: 2.1 Support you to keep in contact with your family and friends, or if this is not possible, to explain the reasons why. 2.2 Provide you with a life story book, and to develop the book. where you are old enough, work with you

living, your carers are supported to

understand and meet your needs, and 1.4 Ask for and listen to your views about the type of placement you will have. 1.5 Provide you with information about

your placement and an introduction to you have to move in an emergency.

your carers before you move in, unless 1.6 Do all that we can to place you as last until you leave care.

2.3 Make sure that we understand about any needs you have that are to do with a background or religion, or are about disability, being from a different ethnic your gender or your sexuality and provide extra services where this will help you. 2.4 Support and encourage you to take up and outside of school.

quickly as possible after coming into

care, in a placement that can and will 1.7 Make sure that you have a named

and develop your own interests, hobbies, activities, sports and talents both inside

social worker, who ensures you are

visited regularly, seen alone during all a manager during normal working hours. B A R N S L E Y C O U N C I L S

visits, and provides details of how you

can contact him or her, a colleague, or

2.5 Support and encourage you to get others.

involved in your community through

volunteering opportunities and helping

PLEDGE

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CHILDREN

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3. We will ensure that you receive a good education

This means we will: 3.1 Make sure that you have a place at a more suitable school to meet your needs. 3.2 Make sure that you know who the active role in supporting you. good school that is local to where you

live, unless it is agreed that there is a

Designated Teacher for children in care is in your school and that they take an

3.3 Make sure that you have an up to date Personal Education Plan, which is you will be able to contribute. reviewed at least annually, to which 3.4 Have high aspirations about your ability to succeed and if you need help to supporting you with a Personal year. catch up with school work, we will make sure this is available, including Education Allowance of up to 500 a 3.5 Make sure that 3 and 4 year olds receive early years learning opportunities.

3.7 Make sure that if you are a school age child you have access to a computer where you live.

3.8 Try our best to make sure you do not of your Care Plan, and never change your school during years 10 and 11 reason for doing so. unless there is a very good welfare

have to change school unless it is part

3.6 Expect and support your carers to attending relevant meetings and providing a suitable place to do homework.

actively support your education through

3.9 Try to make sure that you do not have with professionals supporting you. sure you attend school regularly. achievements.
AND

to miss school to attend appointments

3.10 Work with you and your carer to make 3.11 Celebrate and promote your

B A R N S L E Y C O U N C I L S

PLEDGE

TO

OUR

CHILDREN

YOUNG

PEOPLE

IN

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4. We will support you to be healthy

This means we will: 4.1 Make sure that you are able to attend for all your necessary immunisations and medical appointments, including an annual health and dental assessment, and dentist. and that you are registered with a GP 4.2 Provide a specialist children in care you, your carers, and other health possible healthcare.

4.4 Make sure that if you move home, health services you may need.

health services in your new area have information about appointments and

4.5 Support you to manage your own health needs as you get older, including and relationships. providing information, advice, and support about sexual health, and sex 4.6 Make sure that you are able to take part in a range of sporting, leisure, will improve your physical health. play and other physical activities that

health advisor to advise and support professionals so that you get the best

4.3 Make sure you have specialist support if you feel so angry, upset, scared, confused, or lonely that this is stopping you from feeling safe and happy.

B A R N S L E Y C O U N C I L S

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5. We will prepare you for adulthood

This means we will: 5.1 Make sure that you have a pathway setting out your path to adulthood, 5.2 Make sure that you have a named personal advisor from Barnsleys Leaving Care Services. plan which you have contributed to, from age 16 years and three months.

5.5 Care for you in a care placement until your 18th birthday. 5.6 Do all that we can to make sure that when you leave care, you will be provided with suitable quality accommodation in Barnsley, unless this is against your wishes, and where you need it, this will be supported accommodation.

5.7 Provide you with accommodation in Barnsley when you are home from college or university.

5.3 Make sure you have a bank account, birthday.

birth certificate, passport and national insurance number soon after your 16th

5.8 For separated children provide you in care and support you to take up

with access to English language classes within two weeks of becoming a child additional educational opportunities.

5.4 Make sure that when you leave school you receive an offer of education, employment or training, and the careers advisor. opportunity to discuss this with a

B A R N S L E Y C O U N C I L S

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6. We will involve you in making it happen

This means we will: 6.1 Listen to your views and opinions and involve you in decisions about your care.

6.5 Establish a group of children and young people in care who meet together and with Senior Managers and Barnsley Councillors regularly to talk about This will be the Children in Care Council.

being in care and making things better.

6.2 Provide you with a named Independent Reviewing Officer who will chair your childcare review and make sure your views are heard and understood. 6.3 Talk to you and other children and how to change and improve our services.

6.6 Support the Children in Care Council, by providing advice, assistance, and information, to help the Council to promises made in this Pledge. assess whether we are meeting our 6.7 Involve the Children in Care Council in developing, monitoring, and reviewing this Pledge.

young people in care to help us decide

6.4 Provide you with a copy of this Pledge, so that you will know what we are promising you and you can tell us if you think we are not meeting our promises. You can do this by telling your social at your childcare review, or anyone else who you know will tell us, worker or telling the reviewing officer including the Childrens Rights Service.

B A R N S L E Y C O U N C I L S

PLEDGE

TO

OUR

CHILDREN

AND

YOUNG

PEOPLE

IN

CARE

Photo DCSF

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BARNSLEY
Metropolitan Borough Council