The words in care mean that Bristol City Council has a say about who looks after you, where you live and what happens to you. It will mean that you will have a social worker and that you may be living away from home. There are over 600 children 'in care' in Bristol - so don't worry, you're not the only one.
Some children go into care when they are babies, some are a bit older and some people spend a short time in care before going back to live with their parents. It all depends on your situation. If you don't go home then you can be in care until you are 18 years old. When you are 18 you are an adult and nobody looks after you any more. You can still get help up to the age of 21 as a 'care leaver' sometimes this help will continue until you are 25 if you go into full time education like University.
The law around being in care is very complicated but there are two different ways to come into care:
Sometimes Bristol City Council will be so concerned about your health and your safety that they will ask a court to make a decision about whether you should live away from home or not. This is not an easy thing to do and judges are very strict about whether they think you are at risk of 'significant harm' or not. Your social worker will have to go to court and make the case about why they think you should be looked after away from home.
If the judge agrees with your social worker then you will be put on a 'Care Order' which means that Bristol City Council is now responsible for your safety, health and happiness. This is done under a complicated piece of law called 'The Children Act'
(1989) and if you want to be a social worker, police officer or lawyer in the future then you can download and read it here.
If you are on a full care order then your social worker will now be the person who has the final say on what is best for you - they will be the person who helps you sort out where you are living, helps you keep in contact with your family, sorts out which school you will go to and hopefully makes sure that you have a safe and happy childhood. It is your social worker's job to make the final decisions about your life BUT you should always be asked about what you think and you should always have a say about what happens to you.
If you don't feel that you have a say and that nobody listens to you then you could get in contact with an advocate. Read about 'Me and my Advocate'
The second way that children and young people come into care is called 'being accommodated' and this is where your parents have agreed for you to be in care or have asked for this to happen. This can happen for a number of different reasons and it may be a short term or long term agreement with Bristol City Council.
Being accommodated seems the same as being in care - you may be in a foster placement, a residential home or a boarding school the same as children that are on a full care order. So what's the difference? Well....it's a legal difference and it's to do with something called 'parental responsibility'. When you are accommodated your parents still have the final say on things that happen to you - your social worker will have to get your parents' permission for a lot more things.
If you are unsure about whether you are on a full care order or accommodated then you should ask your foster carer, key worker or social worker. They will be able to tell you.
