A children’s home is a house where children and young people live as a group, with staff who look after you in a caring environment. It is a place where your needs are met when you cannot live with your own family.

You might spend time in a home because:

• your parents are unwell
• you have family problems
• you have a disability and are having a short break
• you are in the care of the local authority

Normally, when you need to live away from your family, you will stay with foster carers. It is only when foster care isn’t possible or not what you choose that you will go to live in a children’s home.

Children’s homes allow you to develop and grow, and provide food, shelter and space for play and leisure.

Care plans

When you live in a home you have a care plan which explains why you are living there, what will happen while you are living there and what will happen at the end of your stay. Your care plan will be reviewed regularly and you will be given the right to participate in what goes into your care plan and have your say.

Most children will go home to their families, but some of you may live with other families (foster families).

If you are over 16 and not planning to return home, you will be given help and support to prepare you for living on your own.