We know that seeing your family is really important so that is one of the first and main tasks your social worker will be organising. We aim for this to be as soon as possible after you move into placement but your worker will include you in the plans for this and make sure that what you think and feel about seeing your family is taken into consideration.

It’s really important that if you are feeling unwell that you tell your carer or anyone in your care team because we all want you to feel safe, happy and well.

Your carers, teachers and social worker are aware that changing school causes lots of different worries and feelings. They will include you in making a plan so that you feel supported during this move. The plan may include visits to the school and meeting your headteacher and class teacher in advance. They will also explore having an identified adult to speak to at school as well as a potential older pupil to act as a buddy.

t can be difficult to concentrate when you have a lot on your mind or are worried about something. I think you should talk to your class or guidance teacher so they know how you are feeling and can work with you to create ways to make things more manageable.

Brothers and sisters are often one of our most important relationships so it can create all sorts of worries, confusion and uncertainty when we no longer live with them or see them as much as we would want to, especially when we don’t understand why. I think it’s really important that you speak about this with your social worker so you can get answers to this question as well as looking at how we can reduce the worries that you have.

Turning 16 can come with new rights, responsibilities, wants and worries. Sometimes that’s about what we will do when we leave school, where we will live, the legal orders we are subject to or if we will get to stay where we currently are. That’s why it’s really important that you talk to your social worker and care team about your thoughts and feelings so that you are part of the plan about your future care and living arrangements.

A debit card is used to take money that you already have, out of your bank account. A credit card is a way of borrowing money which means you have to pay it back, usually with additional cost due to interest. If you are uncertain then you can be supported to speak to the bank about this. That would help you decide which one is best for you also.

There are several options available to you including meeting with Skills Development Scotland to fully discuss them. There are also options available to you as a care experienced young person via Aberdeenshire Council including support from the throughcare team, discussions with NESCOL and our family firm. It may be helpful to get some more information on your options so you can make an informed decision.

Stopping people coming to your home can be difficult.  This is also known as Gatekeeping.  It is important to remember that you may lose your home if you don’t stick to the tenancy conditions.  Your friends are putting your home at risk and it will be you who could end up in trouble and with nowhere to stay.  The landlord of the flat even if this is the council will not allow any illegal activities in the flat and they could contact the police as well.  If you don’t feel you can manage this situation it is important you contact your throughcare and aftercare worker for help.  If you have any housing support the worker will also be able to give you some advice as well.  The most important thing is to try and deal with the situation and get help as quickly as you can.  As long as you are getting help things can be turned around.  If you are concerned about your own drug taking it is also important to ask for help.  You wont be judged for this and the workers will give you advice and support or signpost you to people who can help you make positive changes.  

When people talk about “permanence”, they mean being able to tell you where it is that you’ll live until you’re grown up, or even longer than that.  We don’t want you to have to worry all the time about whether you’ll have to move from the place you’re living, so we want to be able to tell you as soon as possible what the plan for this will be.  Every child/young person has their own plan about this, because everyone is different.  “Permanence” for you could be:

• Living at home with your parent or parents.
• Someone else in your family looking after you, perhaps your granny, your grown up brother or sister, or your auntie and uncle.  Or this could be a friend of your family.
• Living with the same foster carers until you are grown up, or longer than that if you want to.
• Being cared for in the same children’s home or residential school until you are grown up and ready to move on from there.
• Being adopted, which means that you become part of a new family with a new parent or parents.

Your social worker should speak to you about all of these options and ask your views on these.  But if they haven’t you can either ask them to, or you could ask another trusted person in your life to raise this with your social worker.  That could be a teacher, your foster carer, children’s rights officer, or anyone else you feel you can talk to. 

Your home should be a place where you feel safe and can relax.  You should be able to set the rules in your own home. 

It sounds like your ‘new friends’ may not be your friends at all and are taking advantage of you.  They may even be exploiting you and using your flat to deal drugs from, which is known as ‘cuckooing’. 

Controlled drugs are illegal and can cause serious harm.  They are often also associated with criminal behaviour, violence and exploitation. 

• Do not let anyone into your flat unless you know them well and know you can trust them.  That includes friends of your friends.
• Set clear boundaries as to what people can and can’t do in your flat.  Someone who does not respect your rules is not your friend. 
• Do not allow illegal activity to take place in your home.  You could end up in trouble with the Police. 
• If you feel you are being exploited and feel threatened or worried about your safety, you should report this to Police on 101 (or 999 in an emergency).

If you don’t want to phone the Police and want to remain anonymous, you can call the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.  They also have some good information available on their website:  https://crimestoppers-uk.org

Further support and help is available as per below:

POLICE SCOTLAND, NORTH EAST DIVISION

Officers in Police Scotland’s North East Division recognise that care experienced young people may not have access to the same support as other young people.  As a result, in June 2020, we issued our Pledge to guarantee the following support for care experienced young people aged up to 26, living within the North East Division area, which includes the following promise:

• Where it is identified to Police that a care experienced young person has concern for their personal safety at home, we will arrange a meeting with the local Area Sergeant or Inspector to discuss a safety plan and offer advice, should they wish to accept such an offer.

Whatever your age, if you are afraid for your safety, you should call the Police on 101 or 999 in an emergency. 

ABERDEENSHIRE ALCOHOL AND DRUGS SERVICES

You can get drug information and support from Aberdeenshire Alcohol and Drug Services, and can contact them by:

• Phone -                                                          01224 558844                                 
• E-mail -                                                          nhsg.grampianscspa@nhs.net
• Via contact page on –

https://www.aberdeenshirealcoholdrugs.support/alcohol-information-and-support

ALCOHOL AND DRUGS ACTION

You can get drug information and support from Alcohol and Drugs Action, and can contact them by:

• Phone -                                                          0333 3 448 355
• E-mail via contact page on website -

https://www.alcoholanddrugsaction.org.uk

ASK FRANK

Drugs can be a hard subject to discuss.  There is a support agency called FRANK who can offer free confidential, advice anytime.  They also have a website which provides provides honest information about drugs, and other useful tips, such as what to do in an emergency, dealing with peer pressure, and how to find a support centre. You can contact them by

• Phone -                                                          0300 123 6600
• Text –                                                             82111
• E-mail via contact page on website -        https://www.talktofrank.com

FOR OTHERSUPPORT AND ADVICE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE:

• POLICE SCOTLAND YOUTH HUB - https://www.scotland.police.uk/youth-hub
• CHILDLINE - https://www.childline.org.uk/
• NSPCC - https://www.nspcc.org.uk
• CHILDREN 1^ST- https://www.children1st.org.uk
• YOUNG MINDS - https://youngminds.org.uk
• BARNARDOS - https://www.barnardos.org.uk