Living in Care

What is it?

Living in care means you live in a care home (children's home) or with foster parents.

Living in Care factoid There are 60,000 children living in care in the UK
Dept for Education & Skills, 2005-6

Why do people live in care?

Every case is different, but usually children and young people are put into care by Social Services if, for whatever reason, their parents can't look after them. Often it's only for a short time, but it can be more permanent.

How does it happen?

• A Care Plan would be made by you, your Social Worker and your parents, which would state where you'd be living.
• The plan would cover your needs, where you'd go to school and who you'd see from your family.
• A judge would then have to OK the plan after finding out what you thought of it.
• The Care Plan would then become a Care Order, which Social Services would follow.

What's the difference between a foster home, a children's home and a care home?

A foster home is a private home in which a child or teenager lives as part of the family, whereas lots of kids live in care homes and children's homes - which are run by the local council.

Who decides whether you'll live with foster parents or in a care home?

You, your social worker and a judge. Eg, if someone wanted to stay with their brothers and sisters, they might have to choose a care home. If someone wanted a more family-like atmosphere, they might choose to live with foster parents.

Written by Ali Cronin

Last updated 17th June 2007

Further help and advice

• Carelaw: a guide for young people in care.
• The Who Cares? Trust: promoting the interests of young people in public care.
• TheSite.org: Being in Care.
• Or call ChildLine on 0800 1111 (free) or The Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90 (cost of a local call) 24/7 to talk about your problems.

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