Q. What is a Review meeting?

Q. Who comes to the Review meeting?

Q. Do I have a right to go to my Review meeting?

Q. Do I have Reviews if I am accommodated?

Q. What is a Review meeting (Often called a LAC review)?

A. A Review meeting is a meeting about you, which the law says Social Services should hold every six months. At the meeting Social Services have to think about how you are getting on, how you are being looked after and who you are seeing (see section on Contact ) . They also have to think about whether there should be any changes in how you are being looked after, and whether your Care Plan should be changed (see section on Care Plan). The meeting will also look to see if your Care Plan has been carried out and if things are happening within the timescales which were set in the Plan.

Q. Who comes to the Review meeting?

A. Usually your social worker, your foster carer or key worker, your teacher and you will be at the meeting. The meeting will be chaired by an Independent Reviewing Officer, (IRO) who is someone independent since the local authority have to make sure that the person chairing The Review has no connection with your care plan. If there are serious problems with your care plan and what is happening to you, the Independent Reviewing Officer can refer your case to the Office of the Childrens Guardians. Your parents will also be invited to come. Sometimes other people like your doctor may be asked to come along. If you are worried about who will be there, you should talk about this with your social worker.

Q. Do I have a right to go to my Review meeting ?

A. You do not have a right to go although most people think it is good child care practice to invite you. However you do have a right for your wishes and feelings to be taken into consideration.

It is a good idea to go, if you are invited because you will have a 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. You can also ask for someone to come and support you and help you say things that are important to you. There are organisations listed on the further contacts page who may be able to give you advice if there is no-one else you can ask. The meeting may take place where you live.

There will be someone taking notes of your review meeting, and these are called "minutes". You should be able to see these minutes.

Q. Do I have Reviews if I am accommodated?

A. Yes, there is no difference between young people who are on a care order and those who are not. If Social Services are looking after you, they have to arrange regular reviews to check over the decisions that have been made and to plan for your future in care.