Accommodation for Children Living Away From Home

Under the Children Act 1989, certain everyday words have a special meaning. Children may become ‘looked after’ by us which means that we make arrangements for them to live away from home. This happens for a number of reasons.

Some children are ‘accommodated’ at their own request or at the request of their parents. Other children are ‘in care’ subject to ‘care orders’ made by courts in specified circumstances.

Before arranging for a child or young person to be looked after away from home, we:

• Ensure that all other possibilities have been explored.
• Try to arrange for children under 12 to be looked after by foster carers rather than in children’s homes.
• Try to keep brothers and sisters together.
• Place children as near to the family home as possible.
• Take into account religious, cultural, health and educational needs of the child.

Children are generally ‘looked after’ in either fostering or children's homes.

A scheme called Sedgefield Looked After Network (SLAN) offers social and activity events for young people who are looked after.