Residential care
What is residential care?
By law, we must look after you if you are a child or young person who cannot live with your family. Mostly you will be looked after by foster carers but for a small number of people residential care might be more suitable.
Residential care gives you a stable and safe place to live, with 24 hour support from skilled staff who can help you deal with your problems. Some people might need a more secure residential setting.
Living away from home in strange surroundings, with new people and new rules can be confusing, frustrating or upsetting at first. It doesn’t matter how you came to be in our care – we will always try to make your stay comfortable and safe.
Who is it for?
There are two ways in which you can come into our care. Either because your parents have asked for you to be looked after or because we believe that you are in danger of being harmed. In this case a court might have made a care order making us responsible for looking after you.
How long will I be there?
A plan for your future will be made after we get together with you and your family, where possible, to look at your situation thoroughly. In most cases, the plan is to help you return home.
If this is not possible, the plan may be adoption or long term fostering. This will depend on your circumstances and the reasons why you have come into care. We will talk to you about this and you can talk over any problems with your social worker.
What happens when I leave?
Whether you return home to your family, are adopted or go on to long-term fostering, your social worker will always be there to help. Your situation will be reviewed regularly. It is important that you are open and honest with your social worker so that we know how best to help you.
Once you reach 16 years and leave our care, we can help you to move on successfully and achieve your full potential as an adult. Find out more about Getting ready for adulthood.
How do I apply?
If you, or someone you know, wants to apply for residential care, it is important that you get in touch sooner rather than later. We want to be able to help before a situation reaches crisis point. Find out more about Applying for services – children and families.
