It can be quite an upsetting and confusing time when you have to live away from home in strange surroundings, with new people and new rules. No matter what the reason may be for you coming into care, East Riding of Yorkshire Council will try its utmost to help make your stay comfortable, and your environment safe for you to live in.
The length of time you will be looked-after in care will depend on a lot of things; it maybe a few weeks or it may be much longer. The people looking after and caring for you, for example, your carers and your social worker, will help you and talk to you about what is happening.
When you are in care we will consider how best to help you in the following areas of your life:
Health
It is important that the people caring for you make sure you are healthy and well and understand any special health needs you have.
Education
It is important now that we try to make sure that your schooling is not interrupted when you are being looked after. A school is not just for learning but it is where you meet friends and learn how to do new things, e.g. hobbies. We want you to be able to achieve as well as you can while you are in care, not just at school but in out of school activities too:
Annual Report of the Virtual Headteacher (pdf 1mb)
Identity
This area is all about you, who you are and how you think about yourself. We want to help you to feel positive about yourself despite what may have happened to you.
Family and social relationships
This section looks at your family and friends and how best to keep in touch with them.
Social presentation
This is about how you look and sound and behave, also to see how other people see you.
Emotional and behavioural development
How you are thinking and feeling, whether you are happy or sad can affect how you behave and how you get on with people. You may need some extra help if you have been through a difficult time and we will try to help with this.
Self-care skills
This is about how you are able to look after yourself, something you begin to learn very young. We want to help you to be able to look after yourself well and to feel confident about yourself.