I’m in care – what to expect! » The Pledge

The Pledge

In 2007, a British government white paper entitled ‘Care Matters - Time for Change’ called for all local councils in the UK to develop and publish a set of promises to all their children in care. Lambeth Council responded by developing a set of 18 promises in consultation with its children and young people in care.

These promises, paragraphed into five different chapters, aim at giving the children and young people the guarantee that Lambeth Council will provide a consistent support from all its departments to improve their life chances and quality of life.

Lambeth’s Pledge was officially launched on the Saturday 21^st February 2009 at the occasion of the Annual Award Ceremony celebrating the individual achievements of the children and young people. Furthermore, on the 5^th March, the Mayor of London Boris Johnson officially signed the Pledge to all children in care at the City Hall.

For children and young people in care of Lambeth, the pledge is materialized within different ways; for young children up to the age of 11, a book called The Promises of Patch the Puppy explains in an interactive book the set of Promises through the main character Patch the Puppy. As for young people from the age of 11 to 18, they can read through the list of promises on a concertina card.

(You can ask your social worker for these documents that should come in a backpack with lots of other things like a camera, a water bottle etc...)

Patch the Puppy is the Pledge Mascott for the younger children aged 0 to 11 years old.

The Promises

We promise:

Staying Safe and Feeling Supported

To help you be safe and feel safe
To give careful thought to where you live so that you live in a home that feels like a home and live with a carer that really cares.
You will have a social worker who is there for you and will try to make sure they don't change too often.

Get involved, make a difference, Have your say

You will have a say, be listened to and treated with respect
To only make promises we can keep
We will provide you with information about what's happening with your care

Your Happiness and Well-being

To listen if you are unhappy and to let you know how you can speak to an advocate
To help you stay healthy and well and go to a doctor, dentist, optician or other professional for help when you need to
To help you keep in contact with your family, friends, and people and places that matter to you
To help you keep photos and memories about important people in your life and places you have been
To help you feel proud and strong with your own culture, language and religion
To encourage you to take part in family traditions and learn about and be involved with cultural and religious groups that are imporant to you.
To give you extra help if you have a disability or additional needs and to support you to have your say and tell us what you need

Enjoy and achieve

To make sure your are provided with the best possible education and training and get extra help when you need it
To help you get involved in leisure and cultural activities that you enjoy and to have fun

Support for your future

To celebrate your achievements with you
To support you to develop life skills and grow up to become the best you can
To help you prepare to leave care and support you after you leave care so you have the best opportunities for your future