Reviews
To make sure that everyday decisions about where you are living and how you are being ‘looked after’ are being taken properly, we arrange regular and important meetings called reviews.
All the people involved in looking after you meet together with you to talk about how things are going. There are also questions that you will be asked to answer.
Review Meetings
A ‘review meeting’ is a meeting about you, which the law says we should hold at certain times. We will have a review a couple of times in the first few months that you are ‘looked after’, and then they will be every six months.
At the review meeting we will talk about how you are getting on and how you are being ‘looked after’. We will also think about whether there should be any changes. The meeting will also look to see if your care plan is working and things are happening as they should. The review is also your chance to talk to everyone about how you are feeling and to talk about anything that you are unsure or unhappy about.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re being accommodated or on a care order, you will still have reviews in the same way.
Who comes to your review meeting?
Usually you, your social worker, your foster carer or key worker, and sometimes a teacher from your school who knows you well and the school nurse might be at your review meeting. Your parents will also be invited to come along as well.
Who runs the review meeting?
The meeting will be run by a senior independent person—this means that they are not a manager and they don’t usually work for us (Kingston Council). This person is called an Independent Review Chair, and they will usually want to talk to you and listen to your thoughts. You can also speak privately to the Independent Review chair, and they will be very interested in getting to know you and understanding how you feel.
Can you stop certain people coming to your review meeting?
Your opinions about who should be there are important and if you are worried about who will be there you should talk about this with your social worker. If you are not happy about some people coming to the review it may be possible to arrange this, but to make sure we know how things are going it is important to get their views.
Do you have to go to review meetings?
It is a good idea to go to your reviews because you will have the chance to tell people about anything you want to happen, or anything that you are not happy about. If you find it difficult to talk in front of so many people, you can write down what you want to say and give it to your social worker before or during the meeting. There is also a form for you to fill in to help you get your thoughts across.
You can also ask for someone to come and support you and help you say things that are important to you. This is sometimes called an advocate. The Children and Youth Participation Officer, will be more than happy to go with you or you can ask someone else who you feel comfortable with. If you would prefer we can help find someone for you.
Where do review meetings take place?
The meeting may take place where you live, or it may take place at your school or at the Guildhall. The Review Chair will take notes of your view meeting, and these are called minutes. You should get a copy sent out to you even if you did not go to the meeting and you can always talk to someone if you would like help understanding what they say.