Children's Rights Officer

Get in Touch

Hi! I'm Kate Ramsden, Children's Rights Officer. I work for Aberdeenshire Council's Social Work and Education Service.
It's my job to make sure that children and young people know about their rights, and are listened to and treated fairly.

Here is how you can contact me:

Freephone 0800 917 8275. There is a confidential 24-hour answerphone, so if I'm not in you can leave a message and I'll call you back.

Write Freepost to: Kate Ramsden, Children's Rights Officer, FREEPOST SCO4560, Inverurie

Email: social.work@aberdeenshire.gov.uk

What does the Children's Rights Officer do?

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

The Children's Rights Officer can:

• Explain what your rights are.
• Help put a stop to things that should not happen.
• Make sure that those caring for you listen to what you have to say.
• Help you with your complaints or to sort out things you are not happy with.
• Put you in touch with other people who can give you help and advice.
• Go with you to help you have your say in a Children's Hearing, Review or other meeting.
• Encourage you to put forward your views about what is good about services for children and young people, and what needs to be changed.

The Children's Rights Officer 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 will not discuss this with any other person without permission. You can ask a member of staff, Social Worker, Teacher, Foster Carer, a Relative or any other person to contact the Children's Rights Officer for you, if you prefer.

But - if you or another person are being hurt or are in danger, this may have to be reported. In this case, the Children's Rights Officer will always make sure you know what is going on.

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.

Social Workers, Residential Workers and Foster Carers should know about the Children's Rights Service and will be able to help you to use it.

You should not be stopped from contacting the Children's Rights Officer, and you should never get into trouble for this. It is your service and you have a right to use it.