Service Description: Looked After Children's Team - To provide support to young people who are looked after by the local authority and who have a current allocated social worker from one of the 6 Looked After Children's Units
Also known as:- 0-16 LAC, 16+ LAC, 16+ Team, Children in Care
Answer: Rules are necessary to help people get on and live well together. We all have times when we get upset and angry and your carers will understand this and try to help you through your troubles. However, bad behaviour and breaking of the rules may mean that your carer has to take action. This might be a telling off and also might include something like extra chores, a reduction in pocket money (to repair damage for example) or removal of music/television from your bedroom for a specified period if it is causing a problem. Any punishment should fit the misbehaviour. There are rules to protect you from unfair punishments. For example, your carers cannot: • swear at you or threaten you • stop your meals (although if your actions cause you to miss a meal you may have to prepare yourself a snack) • make you wear inappropriate clothing (for example, keeping you in your night wear all day to prevent you leaving the house) • stop you seeing your family just because you misbehaved • stop you seeing others who are involved with your welfare (eg your Social Worker, an advocate etc) • lock you in your room, though it is acceptable for you to be sent to your room for bad behaviour • hit you or handle you roughly, although carers may need to hold you tightly to stop you causing harm to yourself or others If you think that you have been treated unreasonably by your carer, discuss it with your Social Worker.