Looked after children

The local authority are not responsible for bringing up children and do not provide care requested because of disagreements between parents and their children.

Most children looked after are in foster care or with other members of their extended family. For a small number of young people their needs are best met in specialist residential care.

For younger children in care for whom there is little or no prospect of them returning home, adoption will be considered. In all cases where children are looked after by the local authority, care and permanency arrangements are matched to the child’s individual needs.

• For more information see fostering, adoption and residential care

Other local authorities sometimes place their looked after children in foster homes within Hackney. Whenever another local authority does this they must inform us. All notifications of looked after children placed in Hackney should be sent to: cscreferrals@hackney.gcsx.gov.uk

Leaving care service

This service is available to young people aged 18 plus who have been looked after by the local authority for a certain amount of time. Help is given to the young person with independent living skills, career advice and training and educational opportunities. The leaving care worker keeps in touch with the young person and especially when they have no family members to help and support them. For young people who go on to full time education, support can be given until they are 25yrs, if appropriate.

Find out more about the local offer for care leavers.