Relationships
Maintain relationships, access records, and get support for family contact
We know that relationships are important to our children in care and care leavers. We will support you to have meaningful family time with the people that are special to you.
We can offer you support to understand your life story and care experience. We can do this at your own pace. This can include support with requesting your records, being alongside you as you read these documents to provide you with emotional support, and/or writing what is known as a later life letter.
You will also be offered the opportunity to complete life journey work.
Your PA will support you when you want to access records, and will help you understand them. You PA can also help you access your records when they are outside the Wokingham Borough.
Maintain and strengthen important relationships
We will support you to maintain and strengthen important relationships:
- We can support you with the costs of visiting family members up to the age of 18.
- If your family members are abroad, we will support you to have phone contact with the people that are important to you
- If you have lost contact with your family back home, we will support you with making a referral to the red cross who can help find out where they are, and reconnect you with your family where possible.
- Where appropriate we can help with referral and support to access an independent visitor: If you are under 18 years old and you do not see your family very often, then you can have someone called an independent visitor, who will come and see you. They will be there for you to talk to, will offer help and advice, and may take you out to places.
- If you are over 18, we can arrange for an independent visitor or a mentor to come see you if you would like this.
- A reunification assessment will be explored if you want to return to parents, family or a connected person before you turn 18.
- You will be supported to manage your family relationships in a safe way, as adults.
