What to expect while you're being looked after

Use this guide to help you understand what to expect while you’re being looked after in care.

My review meetings

What is a review meeting?

When you are looked after, the law says that we must review your care plan and what is happening in your life within four weeks of your coming into care, then after three months, and then every six months, to make sure that you are being cared for and given the best opportunities.

This meeting is called a review. The review is run by someone that is independent to your situation. They are called an independent reviewing officer (IRO). The IRO is independent of your social worker. It is their job to make sure that everyone that comes to the meeting has a fair say – especially you, because this meeting is about you and your life. It is also their job to check that you are being well cared for.

Who will be at my review?

At your review, there will be:

  • an independent reviewing officer
  • your social worker
  • your foster carer/guardian/key workers
  • your parents (if it is safe for you)
  • someone from your school or college (not all the time)
  • a health professional (not all the time).

You can tell your social worker or foster carer if there is anyone that you do not want to be at your review meeting, or if there is someone else that you want to invite.

Can I bring a friend?

You can ask to bring a friend or advocate to your review meeting to support you and help you to say what you think and feel. If you want to bring someone to your next review meeting, just tell your social worker.

How can I have my say about what's happening in my life?

Before your review meeting, you can meet with the IRO on your own (or with a friend or advocate if you want) and talk about your wishes and feelings about how you are being looked after, and what plans are being made for your future care. You can also tell them about any worries that you have.

Before your review meeting, you will be sent a review consultation form which has questions about what is happening in your life. This was written and designed by other children and young people who are looked after to make sure that it is more helpful. You can fill in this form and send it to your IRO so that they can get an idea about your views and wishes, and what is happening in your life.

After your review meeting, your IRO should send you a copy of what was talked about, and what they have decided needs to happen to continue to care for you well.

Here is a message from the Independent Reviewing Team:

We want every review to be:

  • your review - you tell us where you want to have your review meeting
  • open atmosphere - we want you to be able to tell us your wishes and feelings
  • relaxed
  • relevant - about you and your life
  • environmentally-friendly - this is about you – we don’t want it to be about paperwork
  • interesting
  • easy – we want you to feel comfortable at all times
  • well done – we want to celebrate all the good things that you have been doing.

What will happen after the review?

You should get a copy of what was said in the meeting and all decisions that were made. This is called a review report and is sent to you by the IRO.

Did you know that you can ask for your review report to be translated into another language or format, such as larger print? Well, you can!

If you forget to say something in your review, ask your social worker or foster carer to pass it on to the IRO, or email or text them yourself. The IRO want to know what you think about your review meetings, so let them know!

If you need to speak to your IRO and you do not have their mobile number, call our admin number on 020 7926 8521 and you will be put through to the duty IRO who will be able to help you.