What you can expect from our social work services
Some young people and their families will need advice and support from our social work services to deal with difficulties at stages in their lives.
To make sure we meet these needs we set out the standards of care you can expect to receive if you use our social work services.
Rights
Children and young people who use our social work services, have a right to be
- treated fairly with courtesy and respect
- involved in and informed of decisions and meetings that affect them and their family
- helped to understand decisions and to make their views known
and the right to
- complain and have any complaint addressed within an agreed timescale
- know that adults are responsible for their safety
- have their privacy respected and be told of information about them that is shared by the people working with them
- have their views listened to and taken into account.
Looked after or have disabilities
If a Children's Hearing decides that a child or young person should be looked after by us, or if they are to receive a service because they are affected by disability, they will
- receive a visit from their key worker or social worker within 15 days
- have a care plan that says how their needs will be met and will be helped to reach their potential
- have their care plan reviewed at regular intervals
- continue to receive services until these are no longer required
- always have an opportunity to speak with their social worker on their own.
Cared for away from home
If children and young people are cared for away from home, we will do our best to
- give them a choice of placement or family
- keep the number of changes of worker to a minimum.
We will
- tell them about our arrangements if they run away or go missing from their care placement
- identify and celebrate their achievements and successes.
Children and young people cared for away from home will be
- able to give feedback about the services they receive and this will be taken into