We Do Care!
Welcome to the We Do Care! website. We had lots of help from young people when we were putting it together and now we want to make it even better. If you have any suggestions about how this website could help you more please contact us at wedocare@buckscc.gov.uk
This is your guide to being looked after (some people call it 'being in care' or 'looked after') in Buckinghamshire. This website has lots of information about where you might live, going to school, meetings and paperwork, seeing your family and lots more.
Being in care can be a difficult, confusing experience. This website is not to replace talking to people – your carers and social worker are there to help you, so please talk to them about anything you’re not sure about.
Remember, you are really important and it is important that you get the support and things you need to grow up safely and healthily. This website helps you to make sure that happens when you are looked after.
You probably have loads of questions; especially if you are new to being in care. This website will hopefully answer some of those questions. You will find lots of information about the things below and more.
Education
When you are looked after it is important to try and keep other things in your life as settled as possible and this includes your education. You will carry on going to your usual school unless this causes difficulties.
The education area of the website gives you information about what your teacher needs to know, changing schools, what to do if you want to go on a school trip or attend an after-school-club and many other topics.
Family and contact
When you move to live with a foster family or in a children’s home it is important that you still have some contact with your family. How often you see your family, where you see them and if you only see some but not all members of your family depends on your individual situation. Everybody’s family and life is different and so there are no set patterns for contact.
here you will find information about things like where you will have contact and what happens if you can't have contact.
Health
When you are being looked after in foster or residential care, the local authority must look after your general health care. This includes:
- Making sure you have a doctor and a dentist
- Making sure you are offered a health check every year
- Making sure your health care needs are part of your care plan and that health is part of your Review discussions
- Find out vital information about your health as you go into care such as if you have allergies or any illnesses
This area of the website tells you about what we do to make sure you are healthy and what you can do yourself to keep fit and healthy.
Having your say
The law says that people must listen to you!
It does not mean that adults have to do what you want but they have to make sure that your point of view forms part of the information that decisions are based on.
- Listening to me
- Telling people what you think
- Helping me have my say
- Real life story
This area of the website tells you what your rights are and gives you tips about how to get your opinions listened to.