Speak Up

Every young person in care has a Care Plan. This plan should say what your needs are and how your foster carer/key worker and any other workers can support you.

Your Care Plan is reviewed at your review meetings to make sure that the City of York Council and your foster carer/key worker are doing their very best to make sure your needs are being met and that you are well looked after.

Your Care Plan is all about you, so it is important that your social worker includes you in this and listens to your views.

When you first go into care you will have a review meeting within 4 weeks. You will have another review after 3 months, and then they will happen at least every 6 months.

The people who are important in your life and involved in supporting you will all be invited to your review meeting. You can also talk to your social worker and Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO) about who you would like to attend your review meetings.

Your views

It is really important that you are able to contribute to your review by saying how you feel. Before your review you will be able to meet with a worker called an Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO). Your IRO runs your review meetings, though you can do this with your IRO if you want to!

Your IRO must make sure you have the opportunity to share your views; this is called consultation.

You can ask for an advocate to help you to prepare for your meetings if you would like further support. They can also go on your behalf to share your views if you don't want to attend.

Find out more about how an advocate can help.