Participation of Outlook looked after children

Investing in relationships and partnership working has been a cornerstone in Outlook developing a recognised quality child centred service.

Outlook recognises that children and young people should be an integral part in developing the services it provides.

This can only be achieved by encouraging the participation of children and young people.

This policy supports Outlook’s commitment to identifying innovative ways of encouraging them to participate in the processes of the agency in developing its services.

The following has been compiled by groups of Outlook looked after children in April 2009.

• "We've had our say and this is our opinion!!"
• "Other things we would like are:"

• "Our feelings on Fostering in General"
• "We've had our say and this is our opinion!!"
• "Other things we would like are:"
  
  
  
  
  

Aged 7-13 years
 - "We've had our say and this is our opinion!!"

Foster Carers should:

• Have good fashion sense.
• Be happy and cheerful.
• Play with you.
• Have a healthy heart.
• Be nice to hang out with.
• Speak English.
• Be 'Active'.
• Bring a smile to your face when you are sad.
• Be polite.
• Not wind us up about watching horror movies.
• Be loving.
• Give us a balanced diet.
• Be helpful and kind.
• Be aged between 20 to 80.
• Be a non-smoker.
• Have a nice car like a Bentley, Jaguar S-Type or an Aston Martin.

Aged 7-13 years

 - "Other things we would like are:"

• A big mansion with 7 bedrooms.
• Plasma TV.
• A big bedroom with a Chelsea poster and a blue wardrobe.
• A heated swimming pool.
• A comfy bed with a Sky Box.
• A dog.
• A horse.
• Tarantula or rat.
• Football goals for the garden.
• Loads of food.
• A Wii
• Arsenal Wallpaper
• To take us swimming

But we give and take!!"

Aged 13-18 years

 - "Our feelings on Fostering in General"

• LAC Reviews and PEP Reviews focus on the negative.

• We would like to be rewarded by our Foster Carers and Social Workers.

• Foster Carers should look respectable.

• We would like more contact with our Social Workers.

• Be able to change our Social Worker if we are unhappy.

Aged 13-18 years

 - "We've had our say and this is our opinion!!"

Foster Carers should:

• Understand kids as we can't always say what we mean.
• Stick to promises.
• Be positive.
• Be a good example.
• Be able to talk.
• Solve problems.
• Be friendly.
• Be funny.
• Give and take.
• Respect us.
• Know we like to go shopping on our own.
• Be there for us to talk.
• Take us on 2 holidays per year.
• Be caring, loving and laid back.
• Treat us as you would want to be treated.
• Let us do what we want to do depending on our ages.
• Let us choose our own clothes if we want to.
• Be there for us.

Aged 13-18 years

 - "Other things we would like are:"

• A spacious house.
• A big garden.
• To be near a local park, shops and a leisure centre.
• A heated swimming pool.
• Near to buses and trains.
• Close to doctors and dentists.
• For Foster Carers to have their own transport.
• To live in a town or village.
• A big bedroom with a wardrobe, ensuite, shelves, mirror, lighting, desk, TV/DVD Player and a window.
• To have the chance to decorate our own bedroom.
• A pet dog, cat duck, rabbit, and/or a small pet for the bedroom.
• To share responsibility for the pets with an adult.

But we give and take!!"