Lifelong Links guides - Print version

Lifelong Links guide for children

What is Lifelong Links?

Lifelong Links helps to bring together people who care about you. This can be people you know well, people you have not seen for a while (like a former teacher or carer) and even relatives who you have not yet met. Together, you meet and plan for how those who care about you can best help you now and in the future. This meeting is called a family group conference.

Who else is involved?

Your social worker and carer can help you if you want them to. A Lifelong Links co-ordinator will also meet with you to get to know you. They will find the people you are happy to have in your life and bring them together.

How can Lifelong Links help me?

By getting together people who you are happy to have in your life, who you can turn to and who will help you in different ways as you grow up.

You can learn more about your family history by finding family and friends who you care about and who care about you.

How do I take part in Lifelong Links?

Just talk to your social worker or carer and ask them to contact Lifelong Links. Coventry City Council’s contact: LifeLongLinks@coventry.gov.uk [mailto:LifeLongLinks@coventry.gov.uk]

Do I have to take part?

No, it is your choice. Even if you say yes and then change your mind, that is fine. Just tell your co-ordinator or social worker.

Lifelong Links guide for young people

Lifelong Links aims to build lasting relationships for young people in care in Coventry. It helps bring together people you want to connect with. These can be people you know well but have not seen in a while (like a teacher or neighbour) or even a family member you have not met yet.

How can it help me?

We can find family and friends you want to connect with and who you can turn to for support. You can learn more about your family history and find answers to the questions you may have.

You are eligible for Lifelong Links if you:

• are under 18.
• have been in care for more than six months and are not planning to return to the care of family.
• are accommodated under section 20 or a full care order.

The purpose of Lifelong Links Family Group Conference

Those present at the family group conference will support you in making a plan so you:

• have lasting relationships you can depend on.
• it is clear to everyone who is responsible for staying in touch and how this will happen, so there is no confusion.
• learn more about your history and develop a stronger sense of identity.
• have people to turn to for practical and emotional support. This could be by being invited to family events, holidays, having telephone calls, sending emails, cards, going on outings or getting support with work experience.

Remember it is your choice.

Lifelong Links will only happen with your agreement and, if you change your mind tell your carer, social worker or Lifelong Links co-ordinator.

Who attends the Lifelong Links Family Group Conference?

This will vary but usually includes you, family members you have chosen to be there (and others who care about you), the social worker (others you want to connect with), your foster carer or residential carer, the Lifelong Links co-ordinator and possibly an advocate for you. The family group conference includes some private time which practitioners do not attend.

What happens after the Family Group Conference?

The social worker should work with you and your support network to ensure that the plan you make is carried out and that it is safe. It will form part of your care plan and eventually your pathway plan as you become more independent. A family group conference review should be offered to you and your support network, to check that the plan is working. The plan should also be regularly reviewed by your Independent Reviewing Officer and social worker.

Lifelong Links guide for young adults

Am I eligible?

You are eligible for Lifelong Links if you are aged between 18 and 25 years and are care experienced.

What is it?

Lifelong Links is a service that can bring together people you want to connect with and help you build lasting relationships. These can be people you know well but have not seen for a while (like a neighbour or a teacher), or even family members you have not yet met.

How can it help me?

A Lifelong Links Co-ordinator can work closely with you to contact friends, family members, and associates of your choice, and to create a network you can turn to for support. You can also learn more about your family history and even find answers to questions you might have.

What is a Lifelong Links Family Group Conference?

A Lifelong Links Family Group Conference is a meeting between you, your chosen friends and family members, and your Lifelong Links Co-ordinator. Your Lifelong Links Coordinator will be able to give you all the information you need about how the Lifelong Links Family Group Conference will work, and will spend time preparing for this with you beforehand.

What is the purpose of a Lifelong Links Family Group Conference?

Those present at your Lifelong Links Family Group Conference will help you to make your individual Lifelong Links Plan. This will support you:

• to have lasting relationships you can depend on,
• to be clear about who is responsible for staying in touch and how this will happen,
• to learn more about your history and to develop a stronger sense of your identity.
• to know who you can turn to for emotional and practical support.

Who will attend your Lifelong Links Family Group Conference?

This will vary but will usually include you and anyone you have chosen to contact, remain in contact with, or re-unite with via the Lifelong Links process. Your Lifelong Links Co-ordinator and PA will also attend but will not stay during the private family time part of the meeting.

What happens after the Family Group Conference?

Your PA will work with you and your support network to ensure that your plan is safe and that it is carried out. Your plan will become part of your Pathway Plan and the overall support in place for you as you continue your transition to independence. A Review Lifelong Links Family Group Conference will be offered to you to make sure your plan is working well. Your plan will also be regularly reviewed by your PA.

Remember it is your choice

Lifelong Links will only happen with your agreement. If you change your mind about being involved at any time, you can tell your Personal Advisor (PA), your PA’s Team Leader, or your Lifelong Links Co-ordinator.

Lifelong Links guide for professionals

Lifelong Links is an exciting opportunity for care experienced young people. Lifelong Links is an exciting opportunity for care experienced young people.

Who is eligible?

 Young people are eligible for Lifelong Links if they are aged between 18 and 25 years and are care experienced.

What is it?

Lifelong Links is a service that aims to build lasting relationships for care experienced young people in Coventry. It helps to bring together support networks, that can include people the young person knows well, but has not seen for a while (like a neighbour or a teacher), and even family members they have not yet met.

How can it help?

A Lifelong Links Co-ordinator can work closely with the young person to contact friends, family members, and associates of their choice, to create a network the young person can turn to for support. By being involved with Lifelong Links, young people can also learn more about their family history and find answers to questions they might have.

What is a Lifelong Links Family Group Conference?

A Lifelong Links Family Group Conference is a meeting between the young person, their chosen friends and family members, and their Lifelong Links Co-ordinator. The young person’s Lifelong Links Co-ordinator will provide all the information they need about how the Lifelong Links Family Group Conference will work, and will spend time preparing for this with the young person beforehand.

What is the purpose of a Lifelong Links Family Group Conference?

Those present at the Lifelong Links Family Group Conference will help the young person to make their individual Lifelong Links Plan. This will support them:

• to have lasting relationships they can depend on,
• to be clear about who is responsible for staying in touch and how this will happen,
• to learn more about their history and to develop a stronger sense of their identity,
• to know who they can turn to for emotional and practical support.

Who will attend their Lifelong Links Family Group Conference?

This will vary but will usually include the young person and anyone they have chosen to contact, remain in contact with, or re-unite with via the Lifelong Links process.

The Lifelong Links Co-ordinator and PA will also attend but will not stay during the private family time part of the meeting.

What happens after the Lifelong Links Family Group Conference?

The PA will work with the young person and their support network to ensure that their plan is safe and that it is carried out. The young person’s plan will become part of their Pathway Plan and the overall support in place as they continue their transition to independence.

A Review Lifelong Links Family Group Conference will be offered to the young person to make sure their plan is working well. The young person’s plan will also be regularly reviewed by their PA.

Remember it is their choice.

Lifelong Links will only happen with the young person’s agreement. If they change their mind about being involved at any time, they can tell their Personal Advisor (PA), their PA’s Team Leader, or their Lifelong Links Co-ordinator.