Children and young people

Children and teenagers are referred to Medway Council's Children's Care Services for a variety of reasons and needs. In the first instance, every effort is made to enable a child to remain with their family, providing it is appropriate and safe to do so.

Sometimes this is not possible and the family may have requested help or been referred to Children's Care Services because it is unable to cope.

This could be due to a family bereavement, crisis or breakdown. In other cases, such as physical, sexual or emotional abuse, the child may be removed for their own safety. Children who require foster care may be up to 18 years old and come from a wide range of backgrounds.

Once children are fostered, Children's Care Services aims to work with the child and their family to an agreed plan. If, for whatever reason, they are unable to return to their parent(s), an alternative, substitute home is sought.

First and foremost, this will be within their extended family and friends but if this is not appropriate, the council will seek to secure child’s future through adoption, long-term foster care and in the case of older teenagers, independence.

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