Your Rights

You are a young adult, those supporting you need to ensure you are fully involved in the decisions that are being made about your future! If this is not happening tell your Worker!

We want you to continue to shape the future of your Leaving Care Service. In Autumn 2021 we asked you what you would like to see changed or strengthened in the service; these are our promises for the year ahead:

• Continue to build good relationships with you and the people involved in your life. Arranging to see you and keep in touch both face to face and by phone
• Listen to your worries, anxieties or concerns and support you in whatever way we can to alleviate these
• Support and guide you in your education, employment and training choices
• Ensure you are safe and happy with where you are living
• Help you, guide you and sign post you in the right direction in developing the skills you need to live independently
• Provide you with all the information you need as a young person accessing our Leaving Care Service

We want to hear from; you can do this in speaking with your Social Worker or Personal Adviser.

Your Care journey and Identity

We will help you to understand your journey in care and to understand your life story. Your personal adviser and social worker are there to guide you through this journey and ensure you have everything you need to start adult life.

We know how important it is to have key documents to make sure life runs as smoothly as possible. This is why we will make sure:

• when you are 16 we will apply for your National Insurance Number (NI/ NINO). This is needed when you start work to make sure you are paying the right national insurance and tax; everyone who works in the UK needs one. Your National Insurance pays for things like the NHS, your state pension but also goes to support people who may need to apply for Universal Credit (UC). If you need to apply for UC in the future, you will also need to have your NI number.

• purchase for you your first adult passport. A passport verifies your country of citizenship, it serves as legal photo ID and might be needed if you are applying for jobs, it’s also needed if you want to travel abroad. If you are unable or do not want a passport we will support you to obtain an alternative form of photographic ID.

• support you to open a Bank Account. The benefits of having a bank account include having a debit card so you don’t have to find a cash machine, receiving money such as wages, bursaries or benefits, paying your bills and keeping track of your money.

• access to the Participation Forum (Your Voice) whether this is as an active member or simply being informed about matters which might impact you or young people after you. You may wish to influence change and be involved in discussion and debate which takes place via a range of forums such as activities, trips, focused groups.

You have a right to see the information we keep about you, including the files and records write about you when you were in care. Your personal advisor will support you when reading your records when you are ready to do this.

If you would like to see your file, please speak to your Personal Adviser. More information can be found at Access to Records / Subject Access Requests.

For more information on your rights when accessing your records see:

• The REES Foundation.
• The Care Leavers Association.