Being in Care
Being in care can be a challenging and uncertain experience, but it is also a time when you can receive support to help shape your future. Whether you are living in foster care, a residential home, or with relatives through kinship care, this guide will help you understand your rights, the options available to you, and how to navigate life in care.
Living in Care
When you are in care, you might live in different settings depending on your circumstances. Your social worker will work with you to find the best place for you, and you should be involved in decisions about your living arrangements. Each placement is chosen based on what is safest and most beneficial for you.
Some of the most common places you might live include:
Foster Care
Foster care means living with a foster family who provides you with a home, support, and care. Foster carers are trained to look after children and young people who, for different reasons, cannot live with their birth families.
Foster placements can be:
- Short-term placements – If your situation is being assessed or if plans are being made for your future, you might stay with a foster family temporarily. These placements may last a few weeks or several months.
- Long-term placements – Some children and young people stay in foster care for many years and build strong, lasting relationships with their foster families. Long-term placements can provide stability and continuity, helping you feel part of a supportive household.
- Specialist placements – If you have specific needs, such as a disability, emotional or mental health needs, or complex trauma, you might be placed with a foster carer trained to help you. Some foster carers receive additional training to help young people who have experienced trauma, require medical support, or need extra guidance with emotional regulation.
Foster carers are there to provide a safe space where you can feel comfortable, supported, and valued. You will have regular meetings with your social worker to make sure your placement is meeting your needs, and if you have concerns, you should speak up about them.
Residential Care
If you live in a children’s home, this is known as residential care. You will be looked after by a team of trained staff who are there to support you. Residential care can be helpful if you feel more comfortable in a group setting or if you need extra support with your behaviour, emotions, or wellbeing. Some young people find residential care a good option if they struggle to settle in a family environment.
- Structured support – Staff members provide structure, guidance, and emotional support. They ensure you have routines and access to education and activities.
- Independence skills – You may have more opportunities to develop independence, such as learning to cook, manage money, and build your confidence in social settings.
- Peer relationships – Living with other young people in care can help you build friendships with those who understand your experiences.
Each children’s home operates differently, and your social worker will make sure your placement suits your needs.
Kinship Care
Sometimes, if living with a foster carer is not the best option, you might live with a relative, such as a grandparent, aunt, uncle, or older sibling. This is called kinship care or family and friends care. This can feel more familiar and reassuring because you are living with someone you already know. Kinship care can be formal (arranged through the local authority) or informal (arranged by the family without social services involvement).
- Advantages of kinship care: You may feel more connected to your family history and culture, and it may be easier to maintain relationships with relatives.
- Challenges: Relatives may need extra support to meet your needs, and your relationship with them might change as they take on a parental role.
Kinship carers can receive support and financial assistance to help provide for you, so if your relative needs help, they should reach out to the local authority.
Supported Lodgings
As you get older, you may be given the option to live in supported lodgings. This is a semi-independent arrangement where you live with a host family or in a shared house but still receive support to learn important life skills. Supported lodgings help prepare you for adulthood while ensuring you have someone to guide you.
- Learning key skills – You will be encouraged to learn budgeting, cooking, and how to manage bills before moving into fully independent living.
- Step towards independence – Unlike foster care, supported lodgings give you more responsibility, but you still have access to advice and guidance.
- Flexible support – Some young people stay in supported lodgings until they feel ready to move into their own place.
If you are considering supported lodgings, your personal adviser or social worker will help assess when it is the right step for you.
Fostering and Adoption
Fostering and adoption are two different types of care arrangements, and it is important to understand how they differ and what they mean for you.
Fostering
Fostering is usually a temporary arrangement, though some young people remain in foster care until they reach adulthood. Foster carers provide a safe and stable home where you can live while decisions about your long-term future are being made.
Types of Foster Care
- Emergency foster care – This is short-term care provided at short notice when a young person needs a safe place to stay immediately.
- Respite foster care – This provides a short break for children in care or for their regular foster carers.
- Therapeutic foster care – Specially trained foster carers support children with additional emotional or behavioural needs.
- Long-term fostering – For young people who may not be able to return to their birth families, long-term fostering provides stability while still being under the care system.
Your Rights in Foster Care
As a young person in foster care, you have rights, including:
- The right to feel safe and be treated with respect.
- The right to receive emotional and educational support.
- The right to stay in contact with your family where possible.
- The right to have an advocate to speak on your behalf.
Your foster carer is there to support you, but if you ever feel unhappy, you can talk to your social worker about your options.
Adoption
Adoption is a permanent legal arrangement where a new family takes full parental responsibility for you. This means you will no longer be in care, and your adoptive parents will raise you as part of their family.
How Adoption Works
- Legal Process – Adoption is legally binding, meaning your birth parents will no longer have parental rights.
- Matching Process – Social workers carefully match children with adoptive families based on their needs and circumstances.
- Adoption Support – If you are adopted, you can still receive post-adoption support, including counseling and advice on identity and family connections.
Challenges of Adoption
- Identity and Background – It can be difficult to adjust to a new family and understand your background.
- Emotional Adjustments – Adoption is a big change, and it’s normal to experience a mix of emotions.
- Maintaining Connections – Some adopted young people maintain contact with their birth family through letterbox contact or meetings arranged through social services.
If you are considering adoption or have questions, your social worker can provide information and support.
When should you worry?
GREEN
AMBER
RED
Advice and Guidance
Challenges of Being in Care
Being in care can be tough. You might feel different from your friends, struggle with change, or find it difficult to trust people. Here are some common challenges and ways to cope:
Feeling Unsettled
Moving between placements can be difficult, especially if you have to change schools or make new friends. It might take time to adjust to new environments, but talking to someone you trust, such as a social worker, teacher, or carer, can help.
Emotional Struggles
You might feel a mix of emotions about being in care—anger, sadness, confusion, or even relief. It’s okay to have these feelings. Finding ways to express them, such as writing, art, or talking to a trusted adult, can be helpful.
Keeping in Touch with Family
You may still have contact with your birth family, but the level of contact will depend on what is best for you. Some young people see their birth parents and siblings regularly, while others may only have occasional visits or phone calls. Your social worker will discuss the best plan for you.
Education and School Life
You might have to change schools when you move to a new placement, which can be hard. However, there is support available, such as Virtual School teams that work specifically with children in care to help with your education. If you're struggling, let your teachers or carers know.
Your Rights and Support Available
As a young person in care, you have rights.
These include:
- The right to be involved in decisions about your life. You should have a say in where you live and the support you receive.
- The right to have an advocate. An advocate is an independent person who can help you express your views and make sure your voice is heard.
- The right to receive an education and support to achieve your goals.
- The right to stay in touch with family and friends where possible.
If you live in Hampshire, Isle of Wight, or Dorset, you can access local services such as:
- Hampshire Children’s Services – Support with fostering, education, and wellbeing.
- Isle of Wight Children’s Social Care – Help with placements, adoption, and emotional support.
- Dorset Council Children’s Services – Advice on living arrangements, leaving care, and youth support services.
Your local council should have a Leaving Care Team that can help you plan for your future, including finding a place to live, getting a job, and learning life skills.
Preparing for the Future
As you get older, you will start to prepare for leaving care. This can be an exciting but also nerve-wracking time.
Support is available to help you:
- Find a place to live – You may move into a flat, supported housing, or stay with your foster carers under the Staying Put scheme.
- Continue education or start work – You can apply for college, apprenticeships, or job training programs.
- Manage money – Your personal adviser or social worker can help you budget and apply for financial support.
- Access health and emotional support – Leaving care doesn’t mean you lose support. You can still get help with mental health, relationships, and wellbeing.
Final Thoughts
Being in care is not always easy, but it does not define who you are. You have a future full of possibilities, and there are people who want to help you succeed. Speak up about what you need, stay connected with those who support you, and never be afraid to dream big. No matter where you are now, you have the power to build a bright and independent future.
Resources and Support Services
There are many resources available to help you navigate life in care and plan for your future. Below are some useful contacts and websites:
Local Support Services
- Hampshire Children’s Services – Offers support with fostering, education, and wellbeing. Visit: www.hants.gov.uk/socialcareandhealth
- Isle of Wight Children’s Social Care – Provides help with placements, adoption, and emotional support. Visit: www.iow.gov.uk/children
- Dorset Council Children’s Services – Advice on living arrangements, leaving care, and youth support services. Visit: www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/children-in-care
National Charities and Helplines
- Become – A charity for children in care and care leavers, providing advocacy and advice. Visit: www.becomecharity.org.uk or call 0800 023 2033.
- Coram Voice – Offers advocacy and help for young people in care. Visit: www.coramvoice.org.uk or call 0808 800 5792.
- The Care Leavers Association – Provides support for young people leaving care. Visit: www.careleavers.com
- Childline – Free, confidential support for young people. Visit: www.childline.org.uk or call 0800 1111.
Self care and Prevention
Video Showcase
Related Conditions
Further Information
