Understanding Children and Young People in Care Reviews
This page provides information about Children and Young People in Care Reviews.
This page is designed for children and young people, to help with understanding the process of a review and why they happen.
The Children and Young People in Care Review
A Children and Young People in Care review is a meeting with all those that are concerned with your care and care plan.
At this meeting Children’s Services will look at how things are going, whether your care plan meets your needs and whether there need to be any changes for the future.
This is also known as a 'Looked After Children' (LAC) review.
Review frequency
After 20 working days of becoming a looked after child you should have your first review meeting.
If you continue to be a looked after child, a second review meeting should take place no more than three months after that. Afterwards, reviews should be held every six months.
People at the review
The meeting will be chaired by an Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO) who is an experienced social worker and independent of children’s services.
The review will be attended by:
- you - if you would like to attend and it is in your best interest to.
- parent(s) or carer(s) (unless there's a specific reason why they can’t attend)
- your social worker
- your residential worker
- a representative from your school, usually the designated teacher or class teacher possibly other people or professionals who know you well
In exceptional cases, parents and supporters won't be allowed to attend the meeting. The IRO and your social worker will make this decision together, and explain the reasons why.
During the review
At the meeting, the main focus of discussion will be: current day-to-day care arrangements your health your education your emotional wellbeing the plan for your long term care.
A date will then be agreed for the next review.
The IRO will complete a written report of the review meeting, recording the decisions that are made.
It's important that the meeting is conducted in such a way that you feel comfortable and safe enough to contribute.
Your social worker and IRO will help with this.
Having your say
The review is a good opportunity to tell the people who have responsibilities to you about what you are happy with and what you are not happy with.
These things can be discussed properly so that changes can be made if needed.
You could have an advocate attend with you, who will help you express your thoughts and feelings.
Your advocate can also help you make a complaint if you feel unhappy with the review.
If you can't attend the meeting, your social worker or the IRO will help you to prepare a statement, record a video or a voice note that can be shared in the review.
You can find out more about our advocacy support service online, or please speak to your social worker about this.
You could also contact Coram Voice which is an advocacy charity that can help.