Children and young people may have to live away from their families for all sorts of reasons.
When this happens the children or young people involved will either stay in foster care or in one of our residential children's homes.
A Children's Home is a house where children and young people live together as a group and our staff look after them. They are a place for children and young people to grow and develop in a caring environment.
How long a child or young person stays at a Children's Home will depend on the individuals circumstances and needs. When they come to live at the home they will have a 'Care Plan'. This Plan says why a child is living in a home, what will happen while they are living there and what is supposed to happened at the end of their stay.
Most children will go home, some will go to live with other families and, older children, who are not planning to return home, are given help to prepare for independence and to live on their own. This is supported by the Leaving Care Team.
Whilst a child or young person lives in a Children's Home they will continue to go to school as normal. Whenever possible young people will not have to change schools whilst staying at the home.
It is important that children and young people keep in contact with their family. Contact via visits, telephone and letter will be discussed in the Care Plan to ensure that regular contact is maintained. Only when a child or young person might be hurt, or there is a Court Order saying contact is not allowed, will contact will a person be stopped.