Children's rights | Kirklees Council

The Children's Rights Team make sure that you have opportunities to say what you think and have your views taken seriously when decisions are made about you, your life and your future.

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What the care system is

If you are a child under the age of 18 in the UK and you cannot live with your family for some reason, the government has to make sure that you are safe and well cared for. You will go into care and be in what is sometimes called the 'care system', which means how care is organised.

Why people go into care

There are many reasons why you might have gone into care. Your family may have been unable to look after you for lots of different reasons. Whatever the reason is, it's really important to remember that it's not your fault and you still have rights.

Going into care can be a confusing and worrying time. It often means adults you have only just met making big decisions about your life, such as where you might live and when you might see your parents or brothers and sisters. However, it can also be a chance for a fresh start for you. Your life will be different, but lots of young people say they understand the reasons.

What we do

Advocacy

An advocate is a person who can make sure that your wishes and feelings are heard, this can be done by:

Supporting you at your review
Meeting you and listening to you
Helping you to make a complaint if you are not happy about something or a compliment if you are really happy about something
Giving you information and advice about your rights

If you are in the care of Kirklees Council then you have a legal right to an advocate!

If you would like to talk to an advocate then please contact us or complete the online form below and we will get in touch with you. You could always ask someone else to do it for you.

Other things that the Children's Rights Team do

It's my review

When you are in care you have a care plan which says how you should be looked after.

This needs to be talked about every few months - this is called your review.

Find out more about your review.

Children in Care Council (12-15 year olds) or Care Leavers' Forum (16-21 year olds)

You could join a group twice a month and meet up with other young people in care in Kirklees to have your say about services for young people in care or those who are preparing to leave care and help to improve them.

The Children in Care Council (aged 12-15) and the Care Leavers' Forum (aged 16-21 or 25 if in higher education) are ways in which children and young people who are looked after in Kirklees Council can have a say about things that really matter and affect your lives.

Find out more about the Children in Care Council and Care Leaver's Forum.

Independent visitors

An independent visitor is someone you can talk to, get along with and ask for advice as well as doing fun activities together.

Find out more about independent visitors.

Interview panels

You can take part in interview panels where you can have your say on candidates applying for jobs such as Social Workers, Personal Advisors, Advocates, Independent Reviewing Officers and other people who will work with young people in care in Kirklees to make sure the Council get the right people to support you.

Training

You can be trained to deliver training to council staff and carers about what it is like to be in care so they can understand what life is really like for someone living in care and why it is important that they listen to what you have to say.

Why your social worker must do

Visit you on a regular basis in line with statutory duties. When they visit, they must spend some time with you alone and get to know you.
Listen to your views and take them seriously. They must involve you in decisions about your life. This includes where you will live, who will look after you, your education, health, and contact with your family.
Write you a care plan or pathway plan. This should consider all your needs, like your health and development, family relationships, where you will live, your education, and much more. Your plan will go with you throughout your time in care. It's your document so it's important you tell your social worker what is important to you, so it is written in the plan.

Which laws affect being in care

Section 20 of the Children Act 1989 - Voluntary Care

If you're in care under section 20, it doesn't involve a court and your parents will still have legal responsibility for you, shared with the local authority.

This sometimes happens when a child's parents are in prison, when a young person's relationship with their parents has broken down, or when a young person is homeless.

It can also happen when a young person asks to be taken into care. This will be the situation if you are an unaccompanied asylum-seeking young person (UASC).

Section 31 of the Children Act 1989 - Care Order

This is when the court makes a 'care order' for you, because it's likely you might be harmed physically or emotionally if you stay living at home. This means that the main parental responsibility for you is taken over by the council.

If you're in the care of the council, you will be considered a 'looked after child' (the legal term for being in care) and the council takes the role of your 'corporate parent' which means they have responsibility for you. As a looked after child, there are several things that the law says the council must do for you to ensure you are safe and well cared for.