Everyone has rights! Children and young people have rights and it’s a good idea if you know what your rights are.
You have the right to:
- be treated with respect, as a real person, whatever your age
- be treated fairly whatever your age, race, your disability, your religion or the clothes you wear
- be listened to and your feelings and wishes to be heard and considered when people are making plans about your future
- be able to go to school
- be in good health
- be able to complain if you are unhappy or worried
- about something like being bullied, abused, not listened to etc.
- be able to have an advocate who can help you sort things out when you are unhappy
What to do if something goes wrong
Sometimes you may feel unhappy about how you are being treated or upset about something which has happened. Every young person in care has the right to complain but sometimes it’s better to talk to your carer, keyworker or social worker about it first and they may be able to sort it out for you.
If you are still unhappy after speaking to one of the above this is the time you may want to think about making a complaint. If you’d like to make a complaint, call 01384 814724 or email complaints.socialcare@dudley.gov.uk.
If you want to speak to someone who isn’t in the council, speak to the Black Country Advocacy Service on 0800 652 3839 (this number won’t cost you anything to call), or visit www.childrenssociety.org.uk.
The Local Government Ombudsman investigates complaints about councils and operates completely separately from our complaints procedure. Although you can contact the Ombudsman, they will usually ask that you go through our complaints procedure before they become involved. The contact details are:
PO Box 4771
Coventry
CV4 0EH
Telephone: 0300 061 0614