Children in care

We have around 750 children who are 'looked after' by the County Council's Children's Services, in residential or fostered accommodation. This is the term used for children and young people who are under 18 who have been provided with somewhere to live for more than 24 hours.

We always try to prevent the need for children and young people to be taken into care, while making sure they are protected. To do this, we have improved our family support services. 

• Why you may need to be looked after
  We always try to prevent the need for children and young people to be taken into care, while making sure they are protected.

• Finding out your needs
  We will often work together with other government departments and private and voluntary organisations to make an assessment of a child's needs.

• Residential care in a children's home
  Generally, if a child or young person needs to live away from their family we will place them with foster carers. But, if this is not possible, they might stay in one of our 7 children's homes.

• Asylum-seeking children
  Unaccompanied asylum-seeking children who are 16 or 17 when they arrive usually live in a small hostel for a few months.

• Planning your care
  We like to plan our admissions carefully and involve the young person in this.

• Pocket money
  As the young person gets older, their pocket money will increase. The person looking after them will also receive money for their care.

• Reviewing your care
  Irrespective of whether the young person is being fostered or living in one of our homes, their care plan will be reviewed for as long as they are being looked after.

• What happens next
  After the review, we will update the young person's care plan with the decisions and recommendations that were made.

• Leaving care
  Young people who have been looked after for more than 3 months are entitled to support when they leave our care.

• Useful contacts
  For more help about being looked after, please contact your local office and ask for the child care help desk.

• Beechfield secure children's home
  Beechfield is a secure children's home which is set in the beautiful West Sussex and Surrey borders near Crawley.