What does the Children's Rights Service do?

The Children's Rights Service is there to help you to better understand your rights and responsibilities when being looked after or living away from home. We can also tell the adults responsible for you about what rights you have and how they can be respected.

The service is independent from social workers, teachers, residential care staff, foster carers, educational psychologists and all other adults concerned with your care.

The children's rights officer is there to work for you and with you. You can ask the children's rights officer about any problem, or worry you may have, or about what your rights are.

The children's rights officer can give information, advice and help over the phone, or by writing to you, or by arranging to visit you in a place you find suitable. You can have someone there to support you if you want.

If you live in a children's home, residential school or a secure unit, you will be able to meet the children's rights officer during regular visits.

The Children's Rights Service can:

• give you information and advice about your rights. If you would like a copy of our information pack please contact the children's rights officer

• help you to represent your views at meetings, like Children’s Hearings, LAC Reviews or other meetings

• help you to make a complaint, or sort out your concerns

• listen to and take seriously what you say

• help you to put forward your views on services for children and young people

• help put a stop to things that should not happen

• make sure that those caring for you listen to what you have to say

• put you in touch with other people who can give you help and advice

The children's rights officer will not discuss anything you tell them with any other person without your permission.

Social workers, residential workers and foster carers should know about the Children’s Rights Service and will be able to help you use it. You should not be stopped from contacting the Children’s Rights Service and you should never get into trouble for this. It is your service and you have a right to use it.