What does it mean?

You may need to spend a little bit of time in care if your family is in crisis, or a longer time if your parents need to make changes to their lives. Some children stay in care until they are 18 because they are settled, happy and doing well – and their parents cannot keep them safe.

• your Care Plan – this is agreed at court. It will look at what sort of placement you should have, how much contact you have with family, and what help you may need to achieve your potential

• you will have a named Social Worker. You will also have an Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO) who will make sure that all the people looking after you are doing the best job possible

• Parental Responsibility stays with your parents if you are Accommodated under Section 20 of the Children Act 1989

• Parental Responsibility is shared by the local authority and your parents if you are placed in care under a court order

• Legal Status. As a child in care, you will have a legal status that means the local authority must do certain things to make sure they are looking after you properly. It also means that you are entitled to services as a care leaver. If you are adopted, you will legally be made part of a new family.