Your Say
To make sure you are able to share your views and experiences we will communicate with you in a way that you can understand. We will use interpreters if you need them during phone calls or face to face meetings, and to translate important documents for you. This might include using Makaton or sign language for those that need it.
You have a right to be involved in all decisions affecting your life and this includes having your voice heard in meetings and plans made for you. We will try and include you in planning meetings, so we will hold meetings at a time that suits you, in a place that you feel comfortable. Your social worker, and carer or key worker if you have one, will support you to attend meetings, have your say, and understand the decisions made.
Sometimes you might want someone outside of Children’s Social Care to support you, and help you understand how decisions are made, and how to share your views. These people are called advocates.
When you come into care you are always asked if you would like an independent advocate – someone independent who works for you, helps you share how you are feeling and what you want.
You can have any advocate at any time. Please ask your social worker to make a referral or contact: London Advocacy Service | Action For Children
An advocate is someone who understands the law, knows how social services work and knows about your rights. Your advocate can speak up for you. It is their job to make sure that you are listened to and taken seriously in decisions being made about you and your life.
The City of London has made a promise to all our children in care and care leavers, about how we will look after you and what we will offer. We spoke with children in care and care leavers to ask what you feel it is important for us to do, and how we can best help you have the life you want. Our pledge (promise) is here.
These were then written down and are translated into a range of languages: Vietnamese, Tigrinya, Persian, Kurdish Sorani, Dari, Arabic Morocco, Arabic 1, Arabic 2, Amharic.
If you do not think that the service you are getting meets these promises, you should let us know so that we can make sure we do meet our promises to you. You can speak with your social worker directly, speak with a manager, talk to an advocate, or you might want to make a complaint.
Your social worker can use a telephone or in person interpreter (translator) to help you.
You have a right to complain if you are not happy with a service you have received from the City of London Corporation. If you have a positive experience, we would love to hear your compliments too.
You can call: 020 7332 3498
Or Email: Complaints and Compliments Team
It is important that we are always working to improve our services, so that children in care and care leavers achieve the best outcomes possible.
The Children in Care Council (CiCC) is a group for children and young people aged 12 to 25 years. They meet regularly and work together to talk about what is working well, what might not be working well, or things that young people are finding difficult, and they come up with suggestions to improve the services care leavers receive from the City of London Corporation.
It’s a great way to meet other care leavers, share your views and experiences, and work together on important campaigns and projects.
You can join the group or share your views by contacting the Participation Worker; by calling: 020 7332 1215, or messaging: 07795 090 649.