what if im not happy - children in care and care leavers the mind of my own momo app from the...

www.mindofmyown.org.uk www.standupspeakup.co.uk

What If I’m Not HappySometimes you might feel unhappy, or that things aren’t working out for you or that people haven’t done what they said they would. You can talk to an adult you trust like a teacher, your carer or a social worker.

Download the Mind of My Own MOMO app from the Playstore or the Appstore and use your smartphone to send a message straight to your worker or principal social worker who manages complaints here at Devon County Council. You can also access this from any web browser or on any computer. It’s great for complain-ing of you don’t feel like speaking to anyone.

“I’ve got it on my phone and if I ever need to contact anyone I can do it easily to complain and get involved.”

If you want to complain you can also speak to our customer relations team direct. � ey can help you tell the right people about your complaint, you can � nd out how to reach them on the stand up speak up website. www.standupspeakup.org.uk

“I know to speak to my social worker or support worker if I’m feeling unhappy or want to make a complaint.”

If you’re not happy speak up, make your voice heard and make the change.

Words provided by Devon’s children in care.

Education

School is really important for a lot of reasons, not only do you learn new things it’s a place to meet new friends, develop your self-‐esteem and give yourself lots of choices for later in life.

Your social worker will do all that they can to make sure that any changes in where you live don’t affect where you go to school, especially if you’re in year 10 or 11.

But, if you do need to move school they will make sure that they ask you how you feel about it and what they need to do to support through this and make sure you stay on track.

If you are in care you will have a designated teacher in your school who you can talk to and who can offer support. They will work with the virtual school head teacher and your social worker to make sure that everyone is doing their best for you.

The virtual school is a bit different from a real school, because it is made up of all the children in care who live in Devon, wherever they live and receive their education. The virtual schools main job is to make sure that everyone is doing their best for you.

Speak with the Virtual School or your Designated Teacher for more information.

Words and voices provided by Devon’s children in care.

People You Might Meet

Your Social Worker is there to work with you and your family and make sure that you are safe and well. You can talk to them about any problems you have or anything that’s worrying you or when things are going well for you.

Your Independent Review Office, or IRO, makes sure that the plans your Social makes are right for you, that your wishes and feelings have been included and that things get done when they should be. They also run your regular review meeting and should meet with you before these meetings to check in with you.

An Advocate is someone that is there to make sure that you are having your say about decisions that are made about you and your life. They can help you in meetings, if you want to change something or make a complaint. Advocates are independent and don’t work for Devon County Council.

In Independent Visitor is a volunteer who you can become friends with if you don’t get to see your family much. They are somebody that can take you out, do fun things and activities with. They won’t get involved in any of your Care Planning, they will be there just for you.

If you want more information about the people you might meet, ask your carer or visit our website.


Where Will I Live

Where you live will depend on what’s best for you and what’s going on in your life. There are different types of places you can live that are called “Placements”, one of which will be right for you.

Foster care is when you live with another family in their house. Foster carers are ordinary people who want to give you a safe and happy home. They have lots of checks and training to make sure they can give you the support you need and keep you safe. Your foster carers may have a family of their own or there may be other foster children living there.

A residential home is when you are living with other people in care and are looked after by trained staff.

Secure accommodation is like a residential home except there is a school there and you will be looked after to make sure that you are kept safe or to keep others safe.

A remand placement is when you get put with trained fosters carers who are trained to support you if you have committed a crime or have been recently released from a young offenders institute.

You may be in a supported lodgings placement. This is where you live with foster carers or staff, who provide a safe and supportive home for young people who are aged 16 plus to help you develop independent living skills to support you and get ready for going it alone.

It’s Important that you are in the placement that is right for you, we want you to be part of the decisions about where you live.


Moving In To Foster Care.

Sometimes your parents can’t look after you, it might be because they are unwell, have problems and need to sort them out, or because they have hurt you. Your social worker will have decided that it’s best for you not live at home for now. They will work hard to try and sort out the problems at home and this might mean meetings with other people like teachers, other social workers as well as your family. You will always be asked what you think and it will be up to you whether you want to go to the meetings or have your say another way.

Coming into care you may feel confused, upset and worried about what’s going to happen. You will always be asked what you think and it will be up to you if you go to the meetings or if you would like to have your say about what’s happening in another way.

When I first came into care I was four years old, I felt really scared and didn’t know what was going on. My social worker took me to my foster placement and the foster carer explained and made me feel safe.

If you want to speak to someone about being in care speak to your social worker or IRO.


What if I am Not Happy

Sometimes you might feel unhappy, or that things aren’t working out for you or that people haven’t done what they said they would. You can talk to an adult you trust like a teacher, your carer or a social worker.

Download the Mind of My Own MOMO app from the Playstore or the Appstore and use your smartphone to send a message straight to your worker or principal social worker who manages complaints here at Devon County Council. You can also access this from any web browser or on any computer. It’s great for complaining of you don’t feel like speaking to anyone.

I’ve got it on my phone and if I ever need to contact anyone I can do it easily to complain and get involved.

If you want to complain you can also speak to our customer relations team direct. They can help you tell the right people about your complaint, you can find out how to reach them on the stand up speak up website. www.standupspeakup.org.uk

I know to speak to my social worker or support worker if I’m feeling unhappy or want to make a complaint.

If you’re not happy speak up, make your voice heard and make the change.


Staying Healthy

Being healthy means a lot of things, keeping well, feeling good about yourself, having friends, keeping safe and being fit.

When I first came into care I had a health assessment with a child in care in nurse, then I saw them regularly after this and they watched my health.

It’s really important that you get to do activities that you enjoy and your carer and social worker should help you do this.

Another thing that is really important is sleep. We all need to get sleep so that our bodies and minds can rest and take a breather. Sometimes sleep can be tricky if you’re upset or worried about something. To try and get to sleep it might help to write down what’s bothering you or speak to someone.

Contact your Child in Care nurse if you want more info on staying healthy.


My Family

Your social worker will talk to you about seeing your family. It’s important to keep in touch with them and your friends. If you can’t see members of your family you may want to keep in touch in other ways, like email text, SKYPE or letters. As long as your social worker agrees with you that this is okay. You can also tell your social worker or carer if there is anyone you don’t want to see.

Members of you family may be invited to some of your meetings, if you don’t want this to happen you should also tell your social worker or IRO.

If you want to talk about your family or who you spend time with you should talk to your Social Worker or IRO.


Meetings & Plans

Attending my care reviews, gives me a chance to be involved in the care plan and as I got older I was able to make some of my own decisions. Your Care Plan outlines how Devon County Council will look after you while you are in care.

Care plans give you the chance to put your thoughts across, sometimes I make suggestions about choices and I get listened to.

A child In Care Review Meeting, checks how your care plan is going and makes sure it’s up to date and is working for you. And will be able to ask you how you want to be involved and where you want the meeting to be. They will also help you if you want an advocate. You can use the MOMO app to make a report telling your IRO how you feel and what you want to happen.

You will also have a personal education plan or P.E.P when you come into care, this will be agreed with you at the school with your teach, foster carer, social worker and sometimes your parents too. This is a chance for you to talk about how you’re doing at school and any extra support you would like to do your best or to get involved in activities.

Talk to you IRO about your meeting or use the MOMO app to make sure your voice counts.


GET INVOLVED

The Children In Care Council is called Stand Up Speak UP and there are all sorts of fun activities and projects you can join in with. It acts as the voice of children in care in Devon and works with officers and councillors advising them on the things that are important to children and all young people and how to improve services.

To get involved visit the website or speak to your carer or worker who can help you. There are chances to meet with other children in care through Stand Up Speak Up and care leaver groups. I have met new people and shared new experiences, the group makes me feel more confident and listened to and it’s fun!

The Pledge is a list of promises to all the children in care in Devon, it tells all the adults who work with you what they should be doing to support you., look out for it on our website.

Contact the Participation Team and find out how you can get involved.


EMERGENCIES

An emergency can be when you think someone is in danger or when you think a crime is happening. If you think there is an emergency you should call 999 straight away. You will speak to an operator who will put you through to the Police, Fire or Ambulance service. If you have a problem at your foster home or placement at night, the weekends or in the holidays and can’t get in touch with a Social Worker call the Emergency Duty Team on 0345 600388 and they will try to help you.

If you are worries about yourself or someone else call 999



My FamilyYour social worker will talk to you about seeing your family. It’s important to keep in touch with them and your friends. If you can’t see members of your family you may want to keep in touch in other ways, like email text, SKYPE or letters. As long as your social worker agrees with you that this is okay. You can also tell your social worker or carer if there is anyone you don’t want to see.

Members of you family may be invited to some of your meetings, if you don’t want this to happen you should also tell your social worker or IRO.

If you want to talk about your family or who you spend time with you should talk to your Social Worker or IRO.



Moving Into Foster CareSometimes your parents can’t look a� er you, it might be because they are unwell, have problems and need to sort them out, or because they have hurt you. Your social worker will have decided that it’s best for you not live at home for now. � ey will work hard to try and sort out the problems at home and this might mean meetings with other people like teachers, other social workers as well as your family.

You will always be asked what you think and it will be up to you whether you want to go to the meetings or have your say another way.

Coming into care you may feel confused, upset and worried about what’s going to happen. You will always be asked what you think and it will be up to you if you go to the meetings or if you would like to have your say about what’s happening in another way.

“When I � rst came into care I was four years old, I felt really scared and didn’t know what was going on. My social worker took me to my foster placement and the foster carer explained and made me feel safe.”

If you want to speak to someone about being in care speak to your social worker or IRO.



Get Involved� e Children In Care Council is called Stand Up Speak Up and there are all sorts of fun activities and projects you can join in with. It acts as the voice of children in care in Devon and works with o� cers and councillors advising them on the things that are important to children and all young people and how to improve services.

To get involved visit the website or speak to your carer or worker who can help you. � ere are chances to meet with other children in care through Stand Up Speak Up and care leaver groups.

“I have met new people and shared new experiences, the group makes me feel more con� dent and listened to and it’s fun!”

� e Pledge is a list of promises to all the children in care in Devon, it tells all the adults who work with you what they should be doing to support you, look out for it on our website.

Contact the Participation Team and � nd out how you can get involved.



EmergenciesAn emergency can be when you think someone is in danger or when you think a crime is happening.

If you think there is an emergency you should call 999 straight away.

You will speak to an operator who will put you through to the Police, Fire or Ambulance service.

If you have a problem at your foster home or placement at night, the weekends or in the holidays and can’t get in touch with a Social Worker call the Emergency Duty Team on 0345 600388 and they will try to help you.

If you are worried about yourself or someone else call 999.



Staying HealthyBeing healthy means a lot of things, keeping well, feeling good about yourself, having friends, keeping safe and being � t.

“When I � rst came into care I had a health assessment with a child in care in nurse, then I saw them regularly a� er this and they watched my health.”

It’s really important that you get to do activities that you enjoy and your carer and social worker should help you do this.

Another thing that is really important is sleep. We all need to get sleep so that our bodies and minds can rest and take a breather. Sometimes sleep can be tricky if you’re upset or worried about something. To try and get to sleep it might help to write down what’s bothering you or speak to someone.

Contact your Child in Care nurse if you want more info on staying healthy.



Meetings & Plans“Attending my care reviews, gives me a chance to be involved in the care plan and as I got older I was able to make some of my own decisions. Your Care Plan outlines how Devon County Council will look a� er you while you are in care.”

“Care plans give you the chance to put your thoughts across, sometimes I make suggestions about choices and I get listened to.”

A child in care review meeting, checks how your care plan is going and makes sure it’s up to date and is working for you. You will be able to ask you how you want to be involved and where you want the meeting to be. � ey will also help you if you want an advocate. You can use the MOMO app to make a report telling your IRO how you feel and what you want to happen

You will also have a personal education plan or P.E.P when you come into care, this will be agreed with you at the school with your teacher, foster carer, social worker and sometimes your parents too. � is is a chance for you to talk about how you’re doing at school and any extra support you would like to do your best or to get involved in activities.

Talk to your IRO about your meeting or use the MOMO app to make sure your voice counts.



Where Will I LiveWhere you live will depend on what’s best for you and what’s going on in your life. � ere are di� erent types of places you can live that are called Placements, one of which will be right for you.

Foster care is when you live with another family in their house. Foster carers are ordinary people who want to give you a safe and happy home. � ey have lots of checks and training to make sure they can give you the support you need and keep you safe. Your foster carers may have a family of their own or there may be other foster children living there.

A residential home is when you are living with other people in care and are looked a� er by trained sta� .

Secure accommodation is like a residential home except there is a school there and you will be looked a� er to make sure that you are kept safe or to keep others safe.

A remand placement is when you get put with fosters carers who are trained to support you if you have com-mitted a crime or have been recently released from a young o� enders institute.

You may be in a supported lodgings placement. � is is where you live with foster carers or sta� , who provide a safe and supportive home for young people who are aged 16 plus to help you develop independent living skills to support you and get ready for going it alone.

It’s important that you are in the placement that is right for you, we want you to be part of the decisions about where you live.



Other People You Might MeetYour Social Worker is there to work with you and your family and make sure that you are safe and well. You can talk to them about any problems you have or anything that’s worrying you or when things are not going well for you.

Your Independent Reviewing O� ce, or IRO, makes sure that the plans your Social Worker makes are right for you, that your wishes and feelings have been included and that things get done when they should be. � ey also run your regular review meeting and should meet with you before these meetings to check in with you.

An Advocate is someone that is there to make sure that you are having your say about decisions that are made about you and your life. � ey can help you in meetings, if you want to change something or make a complaint. Advocates are independent and don’t work for Devon County Council.

In Independent Visitor is a volunteer who you can become friends with if you don’t get to see your family much. � ey are somebody that can take you out, do fun things and activities with. � ey won’t get involved in any of your Care Planning, they will be there just for you.

If you want more information about the people you might meet, ask your carer or visit our website.



EducationSchool is really important for a lot of reasons, not only do you learn new things it’s a place to meet new friends, develop your self-esteem and give yourself lots of choices for later in life.

Your social worker will do all that they can to make sure that any changes in where you live don’t a� ect where you go to school, especially if you’re in year 10 or 11.

But, if you do need to move school they will make sure that they ask you how you feel about it and what they need to do to support through this and make sure you stay on track.

If you are in care you will have a designated teacher in your school who you can talk to and who can o� er support. � ey will work with the virtual school head teacher and your social worker to make sure that every-one is doing their best for you.

� e virtual school is a bit di� erent from a real school, because it is made up of all the children in care who live in Devon, wherever they live and receive their education. � e virtual schools’ main job is to make sure that everyone is doing their best for you.

Speak with the Virtual School or your Designated Teacher for more information.


what if im not happy - children in care and care leavers the mind of my own momo app from the...

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