The Redbridge Pledge for children in care aged 11 and under

Redbridge Council think it is very important to make sure that all children in care have a better life and will work hard to achieve this.

We will take good care of you, keep you safe and be a good parent to you. We will listen when you tell us what you like and don’t like.

Our pledge to children in care aged 11 and under

• We will give you 'A Young Person’s Guide to Being Looked After' when you come into our care which gives you information about everything you need to know about being in care. It will give you important telephone numbers of people you may need to contact.
• Your Social Worker will come and see you at least once every 4 weeks and you can talk to them on your own every time they come. You will have their telephone number, email address and you will know where they work so you can speak to them when you need to.
• We will talk to your teachers to help you do well at school. You will have a plan called a Personal Education Plan or PEP which will tell us what help you need at school. If you feel that you are being bullied at school, we will work with you and the school to make sure this does not happen.
• When we arrange to come and visit you we will make sure it is not within your school time so you can be there. Apart from your Personal Education Plan meeting, which talks about your education, we will hold all other meetings away from your school.
• We will tell your carer the things they need to know to be able to look after you and to make sure you are safe and well. Before you go to a new carer, we will tell you all about them and where they live. You will get to meet your carer before you move there except if you have to move in an emergency or where your parents do not agree to this.
• If you need to come into our care with your brother or sister, we will try and make sure that you are placed together if this is what you want and is right for you both.
• Redbridge Council think it is very important to make sure that all children in care have a better life and will work hard to achieve this. We will make sure that your carer takes you to see your doctor, optician, nurse and dentist when you need to visit them. We will provide you with a “Health Passport”. This holds important information about your health history and your health needs.
• We will make sure that you know if you can see your family and when and where this will be.
• We will make sure you get to meet other children in care where you live and in other places so you can help each other and talk about the things you like and don’t like.
• You will know how much pocket money you will get and we will help you to save your money. The amount of pocket money you will receive will be agreed at your
  placement planning meeting. We expect your foster carer to save a minimum of £10 per week for you. This money must be kept in a savings account for you. Your savings will be kept for you until you leave care.
• We will do our best to make sure you don’t have too many different social workers and move too many times. If you feel unhappy with the way we are looking after you, we will provide you with an Advocate who will help you to speak out or speak out for you.

This pledge will help us to make sure you grow up happy and have a good life.