Children’s Homes

Hertfordshire has several Children’s Homes some of which have facilities for children with disabilities.

People have a lot of different ideas about Children’s Homes and this can make children and young people very worried about what they are like.

All of the Children’s Homes in Hertfordshire are quite small: the biggest ones can have only 6 children in them.  Children live in Children’s Homes when it is thought to be the safest or best place for them for lots of reasons or may be because they are waiting for a different type of placement to be arranged.  Sometimes children and young people decide that they would rather live in a Children’s Home than in a new family.

The reasons that young people come to live in a Children’s Home are different for each person and the length of time that they may stay there depends on lots of things.  Some children and young people only stay a short while in a Children’s Home, while other plans are made about where they could live.  A  number of children or young people may stay in a Children’s Home until they are old enough to live alone.

Children in Children’s Homes are cared for by “Child Care  Workers”.  These are adults whose job it is to look after children.  Child Careworkers can have a lot of experience and training in caring for young people, and it is their job to make sure that the children and young people who live there are kept safe and are looked after properly.

Children’s Homes have a number of rules and ways of doing things that are designed to keep everyone safe and happy.  You will be told what you are expected to do and not to do.  You will also be told about all the things that you are entitled to, from how much pocket money you can expect, to your rights not to be disturbed by other young people that live there. 

If you are placed in a Children’s Home, unless there are other special reasons, you should still see your friends and family, go to your usual school and carry on with any hobbies or activities.  The only thing that will change is where you are living.

You should have the chance to visit the Children’s Home with your social worker and maybe your family, and be able to ask lots of questions.

We have now re-provided most of our children’s homes to new buildings which are more homely and have bigger and better bedrooms.ons.