Children in care

What does being in care mean?

Being in care or looked after means that you don't live with your family for whatever reason.

No matter what type of care you live in, you can always find the opportunity to achieve in everything that you do.

The Voice Project

This is the place where you can have your say on issues that matter to you. We listen, so that we can make things better for the future.

U-pack information guides

The following U-pack documents explain the looked after system and what it's like to live with foster carers. They also give children the opportunity to say what they think:

Living away from home

• Living away from home U-pack: years 7 and under (3.6 MB)
• Living away from home U-pack: years 8 to 13 (16.3 MB)
• Living away from home U-pack: years 14 and over (6.3 MB)

Fostering service

• Fostering service U-pack: years 7 and under (2.5 MB)
• Fostering service U-pack; years 8 to 13 (1.2 MB)

Disabilities U Pack

• All about you (1.9 MB)  
• Being a Teenager (1.3 MB)
• How we will help you (1.3 MB)  
• Lifestyle (1 MB)
• Living in Care (1.3 MB)  
• My Education (1.3 MB)
• Short Breaks (1.2 MB)  
• Your Health (1.3 MB)
• Your Say (1.1 MB)  
• Mood Cards (1 MB)

Staffordshire Children's Homes Procedures Manual

The Staffordshire Children's Homes Procedures Manual contains all of our key policies and procedures and also has its own Local Resources area which contains information in addition to main contents within the manual. 

There is a user guide for guidance on how to use the online procedures as well as a summary of recent amendments/additions.

Fostering and adoption

We are currently looking for foster carers and adopters from across Staffordshire.

The Staffordshire pledge

The pledge is a set of promises made by us to Staffordshire’s looked after children, young people and care leavers. This pledge shows how we promise to do this.

Staffordshire Independence Programme

The Staffordshire Independence Programme contains twelve downloadable modules designed to prepare young people in care for the move to independence, and has been developed in response to young people telling The Voice Project that they do not often feel prepared enough before moving into independence. The Staffordshire Independence Programme offers a standardised approach to preparing all young people in the care of Staffordshire County Council for independence, ensuring all young people have the support required for this from the age of sixteen.

As well as the modules below, the information guide will offer more information about the modules, including who has a role in supporting young people to complete the Staffordshire Independence Programme, and enable them to reach their full potential as adults in society.

• Staffordshire Independence Programme Information Guide (725 KB)
• 1. Module One - Shopping and Cooking (1 MB)
• 2. Module Two - Setting up your own home (637 KB)
• 3. Module Three - Doing it yourself (1.42 MB)
• 4. Module Four - Home Safety (440 KB)
• 5. Module Five - Staying Healthy (677 KB)
• 6. Module Six - Relationships and Support Networks (621 KB)
• 7. Module Seven - Understanding the move to independence (614 KB)
• 8. Module Eight - Managing your tenancy (3.15 MB)
• 9. Module Nine - Getting to know your bills (482 KB)
• 10. Module Ten - Your Local Community (431 KB)
• 11. Module Eleven - Benefits and Budgeting (633 KB)
• 12. Module Twelve - Avoiding Debt (562 KB)
• End Quiz (298 KB)
• Answer Booklet (696 KB)