For young people and families. A home where your voice matters. A short introduction to everyday life with Guidance Care, and the people you can talk to. A new place, at your pace. Moving somewhere new can bring lots of questions. You can ask us about the home, the adults who work there and what everyday life is like. Our homes are small. Two or three young people live in each one. A move is planned with the people supporting you, so there is time to prepare. Ask for the children’s guide for your home. It explains the things you need to know, in a way that suits you. This page is a short introduction; your own guide and care plan have the details for you. Which home are you coming to? Choose your home to see who looks after it. At Abbey House, the person in charge is. Julie Hodgkinson. Dual Registered Manager. They will say hello when you visit. You can ask them anything about the home. At Coniston House, the person in charge is. Chelsea Taylor. Proposed Registered Manager. They will say hello when you visit. You can ask them anything about the home. At Darwen House, the person in charge is. Jo Jacklin. Registered Manager. They will say hello when you visit. You can ask them anything about the home. At Hambleton House, the person in charge is. Nicky Reason. Registered Manager. They will say hello when you visit. You can ask them anything about the home. At Oakwood House, the person in charge is. Michelle Willacy. Proposed Registered Manager. They will say hello when you visit. You can ask them anything about the home. At Willow House, the person in charge is. Jo Jacklin. Registered Manager. They will say hello when you visit. You can ask them anything about the home. Everyday life. Your voice matters. You can say what you think, ask questions and tell us when something does not feel right. Conversations, keywork sessions and house meetings are ways to take part in decisions. You can ask for information to be explained differently, or for help to put your thoughts into words. Before you arrive, you can also get to know something about the adults around you. See Paul’s illustrated staff profile. If you need help. Talk to your keyworker, the home’s manager or your social worker. Ask for the home’s complaints information if you want to raise a concern. You can ask about an advocate: someone who helps you say what you want and understand your rights. Someone outside the home. The Children’s Commissioner’s Help at Hand service offers free, impartial advice and help for children in care. Call 0800 528 0731, 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. If your concern is about a children’s home, you can also contact Ofsted on 0300 123 1231 or enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. Things you get to do. Living here is not only the house. You get to go out and try things, and you get a say in what they are. These are some of the things young people have done with us. Zip lines High up, clipped on, and fast. Canoeing Out on the water, paddling together. Go-karting Helmet on, foot down. Bowling Easy to join in, even if you have never been. The cinema A film and a tub of popcorn. The zoo A proper day out. Not everything will be your thing, and that is fine. Tell your keyworker what you would like to try and they will look into it. Learning to do things for yourself. The older you get, the more you take on. Cooking something you actually like. Working out what your money has to cover. Getting the bus on your own. Sorting your own washing. Nobody expects you to know all of it now, and nobody will rush you. You and your keyworker decide what to work on next. The point is that by the time you move on, the everyday things feel ordinary. More for you and your family. Pages written for young people and the people close to them. You do not have to read them all at once. Moving in: what to expect What happens before, on and after the day you move. There is a spoken version too. Moving in, in easy read The same information in shorter sentences, with a spoken version. A week can include An illustrative week. Every home and every young person is different. Support through difficult moments What the adults around you do when a day goes wrong. Staying connected For families and birth parents: contact, relationships and agreeing updates. Tell us if something is wrong How to raise something, and who you can talk to outside the home. Keeping children safe How safeguarding works in our homes. If you need to talk to someone now. You do not have to be in danger to ask for help. If something is worrying you, you can talk to someone who does not work for Guidance Care. These services are free and private. Childline 0800 1111 Anything at all, if you are under 19. Free, day or night. The call will not show up on the phone bill, and you can ring even if you have no credit. You can message them online instead if that is easier. childline.org.uk. Help at Hand 0800 528 0731 If you are in care, living away from home, or you have a social worker. Free advice from the Children’s Commissioner’s own team. They can help you sort something out when you feel stuck. childrenscommissioner.gov.uk. Shout Text SHOUT to 85258 If you would rather write than say it out loud. Free text messages, day or night. Nobody has to overhear you. giveusashout.org. SafeCall Call or text 116 000 If you are away from home, thinking of leaving, or someone is putting pressure on you. Free, and they will not judge you. safecall.org.uk. If someone is in danger right now, call 999. You can also tell any adult in your home, your social worker, or your advocate. Telling someone outside Guidance Care is allowed, and nobody here will be cross with you for doing it.