What are Children Looked After reviews?
People often shorten Children Looked After reviews and say CLA review.
A review is a meeting which is all about you and your care plan. It is very important to prepare for the meeting by thinking about what you want to say.
What is an independent reviewing officer?
Your review is chaired by an independent person called an Independent Reviewing Officer. People often shorten this and say IRO.
An IRO is an experienced social worker; they are an important independent person. Every child or young person who is looked after must have an IRO.
Your IRO will check to make sure that your care plan is right for you and is working; they will check that there are clear plans about your future and make sure that everyone listens to what you say and that they take your views into account when they make decisions.
How often will my reviews take place?
Slough Children First has to make plans for your care and for your future. We have a duty to look at the plans at regular intervals to make sure they are still right for you.
A review meeting will be held within four weeks of you being looked after. Another meeting will then be held within three months after that, and then again within six months. After this you will have a review every six months.
Sometimes reviews might be held sooner and if you move to a new placement you will have a review within four weeks.
You can also ask for a review meeting to take place sooner if you are not happy with your care plan.
What happens at my review meeting?
Your care plan will be talked about and will be reviewed to make sure it is still the right plan for you. It will be decided if any changes to your plan need to be made, and what they are.
Everyone has a chance to say what they think, people listen to what others have to say and everyone’s views are taken seriously.
At the end of the meeting the independent chair will arrange the date, time and place of the next review to suit everybody.
How do I benefit from the review?
When reviewing your care plan, your Independent Reviewing Officer will want to hear about what is going well for you and if there are any problems that you need help and support with. Your care plan will be an individual plan all about you that will make sure you are looked after, kept safe and have a good future.
Do I have to come to my review?
You will be encouraged to attend your review, to hear what is being said about you and have your chance to have your say.
It is your choice if you come to your review; you don’t have to stay for all the meeting and can take breaks at any time.
We understand that it can be difficult coming to meetings and speaking in them, you can ask someone you trust to speak for you. You can also ask to speak to your Independent Reviewing Officer by yourself outside of the meeting if this helps.
How can I share my thoughts, views and feelings?
We understand that it can be difficult coming to meetings and speaking in them. We also know that sometimes it is easier to write down how you are feeling and what you are happy with or not so happy with.
My Review…My Views
These are a set of forms created by and for children and young people looked after to help you to share your views, wishes and feelings.
Children ages 4-7
Before your review you will be sent a form called ‘My Review…My Views’. Your form will help you to share how you are feeling. Your carer will help you to write down how you feel or you can draw us a picture.
Children and young people ages 8-15
You can share your views, wishes and feelings before each of your review meetings in your ‘My Review…My Views’ online form.
Your ‘My Review…My Views’ form provides you with the opportunity to share your thoughts, wishes and feelings. The form asks you questions that will help you to share how you are feeling, for example, how you are getting on at school, what types of activities you take part in to keep you fit and healthy and how you feel about the different people in your life such as your carer or social worker. And don’t forget…you too can ask questions.
Once you have received your own unique username you can start to use your form to share how you feel.
Click here to start using your ‘My Review…My Views’ online form.
If you would prefer to use a paper version of the form please click here to print your form.
Young people aged 16 and 17
A brand new form for young people aged 16 and 17 has been created to help you share your views, thoughts and feelings in advance and in preparation for each of your review meetings.
Your ‘My Review…My Views’ form also provides you with the opportunity to share your thoughts, wishes and feelings. The form asks you questions that will help you to share how you are feeling, for example, how you are getting on at school, what types of activities you take part in to keep you fit and healthy and how you feel about the different people in your life such as your carer or social worker. And don’t forget…you too can ask questions.
Click here to start using your ‘My Review…My Views’ online form.