What does looked after children mean

Being 'looked after' is a legal term for any child who comes into the care of Children's Services at their local authority. It means that the council must take responsibility for the child or young person's wellbeing, education, health and future. There are many reasons why this happens.

You might hear people talking about children being 'in care' or 'looked after', or professionals using the term 'CinC.' It all means the same thing, that the child or young person is in the care of the council.

You might be looked after with your parents' consent or by a court order. You might live with foster carers, in a residential home, with family members or connected people (eg friends or neighbours) or sometimes even with your birth parents.

Once a child is looked after, Norfolk County Council has many duties to check on the child's wellbeing and planning for their care. Your carers must be approved as foster carers. You and your carer will each have a social worker and there will be regular review meetings, called CinC reviews which are chaired by an independent person called an independent reviewing officer (IRO).

A child stops being looked after when they return home, are adopted, or turn 18, unless care is extended.