What you can expect from children’s social care
We know support from children's social care can feel worrying, especially if you are unsure what will happen next.
Our job is to work with you and your child to keep them safe, make sure they get the right help at the right time, and support them to grow up in a safe and stable way. We want to work with you in an open, honest and supportive way.
What working with you means
When we work with your family, we will:
- listen to your child, to you, and to the people who matter
- be honest about what is going well and what we are worried about
- work with your strengths and build a clear plan together
We work with the whole family, not just one person or one issue. We will:
- get to know your family and what matters to you
- understand your strengths and any challenges
- work with you to find solutions together
Working with your wider family
Often, it helps to involve people who know and support your child, such as:
- family members
- friends
- other important people in your child's life
We will work with you to arrange a family network meeting or family group conference so everyone can come together, share ideas and help make a plan to keep your child safe.
Working with other services
You may have support from other services, such as schools, health, housing, or youth services.
We will:
- help bring the right people together
- agree a clear plan with you
- try to avoid you having to repeat your story
Your child's voice
Your child's views are important. We will find ways to hear from them that feel right for them.
They can:
- share their views directly with us
- use tools like Mind of My Own
- have an advocate to help them speak up
They can come to meetings if they want, or we can share their views in other ways.
When we need to make a plan
We will work with you to agree:
- what needs to change
- what support is needed
- who will do what
Your social worker/lead practitioner will:
- talk things through with you clearly
- keep you updated
- involve other services with your agreement
Feedback, concerns and complaints
We want to hear from you about what is working and what could be better.
- speak to your social worker/lead professional or their manager if you have concerns
- you can also give feedback through Let's Talk Oxfordshire
- if needed, you can make a formal complaint through the council