Living in Foster or Residential Care

How often can I see my family?

As a young person living in foster care or residential care it is very important that you have regular contact with your family unless the court decides that it is not safe for you. When you move into care your social worker will organise a care plan meeting with you. At this meeting it will be discussed with you how often you will see your family, when you will see them and where you will see them. Depending on your situation your social worker may have to make special arrangements with you about your family contact. The reasons why these arrangements have to be made should be explained clearly to you.

How often can I see my friends?

When you move in to care it is very important that you can keep in touch with your friends as much as possible, you might even make new friends in the house or the street where you are living or maybe at school or college. Sometimes you may have a friend who is not the best person to hang around with. To make sure you are safe your social worker, residential staff or foster carer will talk to you about this.

Can I bring my photographs of my family and friends with me when I move into care?

Yes you can bring the photographs of your family and friends with you to the house you are moving into. Your photographs are your way of remembering and thinking about the important people in your life. 

Why is there so much information written down and kept about me?

The information that is written down about you is about the important things that happen to you while you are living in care and it is important to record the decisions that are taken about you at your meetings.

Why are there so many forms to be filled out about me?

 The forms help to record the information kept about you the forms are there to make sure you are being cared for in a safe way.

Where is this information kept about me?

 This information about you is kept in a file with your name on it and is marked Private and Confidential, your file is locked away in a safe place.

Can I read my file?

 Under a law called the Freedom of Information Act you have a right to read your file. However as some of the information in your file might be upsetting it is very important that you ask your key worker/ social worker to sit with you while you look at your file. When you read your file you may have questions you would like to ask your key worker/social work, they will talk try and answer these questions for you.

Check out our guide Your Guide to Living in Residential Care for more information. Even if you are in Foster Care it has loads of info for you too!

See also: Report of the Forum for Young People in Care (2010 - Foster Care in North Dublin)