CHILDREN’S AND YOUNG PEOPLE’S RIGHTS
General Rights
♥ To the best possible quality care which promotes equality and rejects all forms of discrimination including that based on disability, race, colour, sex, religion, ethnic or social origin and sexuality
♥ To develop their physical, emotional and intellectual potential
♥ To family life, preferably with their own family, but if this is not possible then with a substitute family
♥ To be loved
♥ To skilled care and treatment
♥ To be treated with dignity and fairness
♥ To be treated in a way that is appropriate for their age
♥ To be free from all forms of abuse
Specific Rights
♥ To maintain her/his own culture, language and religion by having a placement which can provide a suitable environment to do this
♥ To be actively involved in all decisions made about their care and to be able to put forward their views and opinion
♥ To an education
♥ To have access to high quality medical care and to be able to refuse treatment depending on age and understanding
♥ To know the contents of all reports which might affect the decisions made about them, as long as this is age appropriate
♥ To know the details of their personal and family circumstances and to have help to accept the implications of this information
♥ To be helped to record events form their own point of view as long as this is age appropriate so records are not always someone else’s account
♥ To help in putting forward their own point of view to all those making decisions about their future
♥ To space and privacy
♥ To individual property
♥ To be involved in the purchase of personal items like clothes and food
♥ To Complaints procedure for processing their complaints about aspects of their care that they are dissatisfied with
♥ To be able to make complaints without fear of retribution
♥ To be given a copy of their rights with an explanation on grievance procedures
♥ To be represented by and/or participate in a group of young people in care
♥ To independent time with the social worker to discuss issues and concerns about the placement
♥ To refuse additional responsibilities brought about by having other foster children in the home (for example, baby-sitting)