Sometimes People Say Words That Are Hard to Understand So Here We Have Tried to Help You

Jargon Buster

Sometimes people say words that are hard to understand so here we have tried to help you by explaining what some of the words they use mean.

Accommodation:

This is another word for being in care.

Advocacy:

An advocate is a person who can support what you have to say. For example, if you want an adult to be with you when you make a complaint or attend a review they could support you in saying what you want to say or, if you prefer, tell others what you want to say on your behalf.

Allowances or Pocket Money:

This is the money you are given by your carers. You will get pocket money every week, plus a certain amount on your birthday, at Christmas and for other religious festivals.

Assessment:

Children's Social Care will collect information about you and your family circumstances and write in a report what your needs are and who they feel should care for you. Other professionals such as school teachers or health workers may also add information. Your social worker will ask you for your views and ensure this is included in the report.

Care Order:

This is a legal order made by the court that gives Children's Social Care permission to look after you. This is called parental responsibility. Your parents continue to have parental responsibility. However, the local authority can limit your parents parental responsibility if this is necessary.

Care Plan:

A care plan is a written document that identifies what your needs are and how Children's Social Care is going to look after you and make sure that your needs are met. This will include where you are going to be living and for how long; where you will go to school and what support will be available for you at school if needed; who you are going to see from your family and friends network and how often. If you have any special needs such as health issues or have a special diet, this will all be recorded in your care plan. Your care plan may also include details of any clubs you are part of or other activities that you like to do on a regular basis.

Child Care Review:

Every young person will have regular Child Care Reviews. It is a legal meeting and within the law it says how often these reviews should happen. You can also request a review any time by talking to your Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO). To complete the review, your social worker and other professionals will talk to you and your family and see if anything has changed since they first assessed you or wrote your care plan and also to see how you are progressing and whether any changes to your care plan are needed. If things have changed then new agreements may be made. You will be fully involved in the review and it is important that you have your say. Each young person will have a named IRO who will remain their IRO during their time in care.

Children's Guardian:

If you are subject to care proceedings in court, the court will appoint a guardian. He or she will want to know your views and opinions and will also talk to your family and social workers. The guardian will tell the court directly what you have told them, this means you don't have to go to court. The guardian will always have a solicitor to support them with legal issues in court.

Children's Rights:

The Children's Rights Service locally and nationally has lots of information on your rights and about being in care and care leavers. They can help make sure that you have the rights that you are entitled to.

Children's Social Care:

A department of the local authority, which supports and protects children and young people.

Complaints:

Children's Social Care has a legal duty to have a procedure to deal with complaints or compliments. If you are unhappy about any aspect of your care from Children's Social Care or you feel that they have not done what they should have or said they would do, then you have the right to make a complaint and to have it investigated. You should have been given a leaflet on making a complaint, if not ask your social worker for one or go to the complaints section on this site.

Complaints Officer:

A Complaints Officer works for the complaints department at Children's Social Care and the Complaints Officer will contact you if you make a complaint to Children's Social Care.

Consultation:

An opportunity for you to talk to adults about your views.

Contact:

This is the word used to describe when and how you see your family and friends.

Corporate Parent:

The council staff and Councillors are all part of being a 'parent' to children in care, to make sure you get the best care possible

Designated Teacher:

A teacher in your school who has the specific job of supporting children in care.

Duty Officer:

This is a social worker who is available to speak to when your social worker is out of the office or on holiday.

ESWT: (Emergency Social Work Team):

These are social workers who are available to talk to, out of office hours, in emergency situations.

Family Group Conference:

A meeting with you and everyone important in your life such as your parents, other family members and close friends, to work together to sort out a 'family plan' for you and your family to keep you safe and well cared for.

Foster Care:

This is when you are 'in care' within a family situation looked after by foster carers.

Fostering Social Worker:

Your foster carer has their own social worker who supports them in looking after the children they care for.

Health Nurse:

A nurse specifically for children in care to make sure you are fit and healthy, they will make sure you get any health support if you need it.

In care:

This is when you are cared for by Children's Social Care.

Independent Reviewing Officer:

The person who makes sure you have regular child care reviews, makes sure your voice is heard and checks that you are being cared for properly and your care plan is appropriate.

Independent Visitor:

This is someone who doesn't work for Children's Social Care who visits you on a regular basis (usually when you have no or limited contact with your own family) who you can talk to about things and go out with to activities as agreed.

Interim Care Order:

The court has the power to make interim care orders (ICO). An interim care order places the child in the care of the local authority on a part time basis whilst the family is assessed and until the court can make a final decision. The interim care order has the same effect as a final care order so it gives the local authority parental responsibility.

Keyworker:

If you live in a children's home or residential special school you will have a key worker. This is someone who will be responsible for you whilst you are there.

Leaving Care:

This is when you leave either the residential or foster home and move to a place of your own. There is a leaving care worker who will help you with this and they are called personal advisers.

Link Worker:

This is member of staff in a children's home who has special responsibility for your day-to-day care.

Local Authority:

The Council that is responsible for you and your care, they are called your corporate parents.

Looked After:

This means that Children's Social Care is looking after and caring for you, this can be alongside or instead of your parents.

OFSTED:

OFSTED stands for Official Standard for Education. They are the official body for inspecting schools and education services.

Personal Education Plan (PEP):

This is a plan of your education and includes what support you have and will be reviewed at least once a year whilst you are looked after by Children's Social Care. This is an important document, which helps you to achieve your goals.

The Pledge:

This is a promise made by Milton Keynes Council to Children in Care saying what they will do for you when you are in care.

Regulation 33 Visitors:

This is a person from Milton Keynes Council who visits each Milton Keynes owned residential home every month to make sure that everything is okay for both the young people and the staff there. They talk to staff and young people, make notes and then write a report that goes to senior managers within the Council, the manager of the residential home and OFSTED. This is to make sure that you are being well cared for.

Social Worker:

This person is employed by Children's Social Care. Each young person will have a named social worker who will be responsible for their care.