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How to get yourself heard
Being listened to and feeling that you’ve been heard is important. Both of these things are particularly significant when you’re in care or are working with us on issues which are affecting your life and future.
We try to make it easy for you to tell us what you think and make sure you feel you can ask questions and get the answers you need.
If you’re in care, some of your questions have been answered in the being in care section, which has loads of information for you, including guides on what to expect when you’re in care.
And the boxes below, on this page, help you work out some things you might want to ask your social worker about – just go ahead and ask and they’ll answer them for you.
Please know you’re never alone. You can ask us questions, give us your views and expect to be heard. We’ll listen and work with you to help you feel happy, safe and secure, so you can look forward to a brighter future. That’s why we’re here!
But if you don’t feel you can ask us questions or are worried about speaking up, there are people who can support you and do that for you, for free. They’ll help you make your voice heard. In Reading, this is through a company called Reconstruct.
Reconstruct can help you with advocacy (that’s asking questions for you or representing your views for and with you), they can visit you and take you out if you don’t have anyone nearby to do that with you. They’ll help you with mentoring and with going to meetings with us, if you can’t face coming on your own.
Reconstruct is all about improving what’s on offer to you to help you live your best life.
You can see more on their website here, email them at yourvoice@reconstruct.co.uk or call them free on 0800 389 1571.
What should I say?
You can tell your worker whatever you like. Some of the things you might want to say:
Something you want to talk about with your worker next time they visit
Help prepare for a meeting to help you feel more organised and confident
Share some good news – if you feel happy or something has gone well
Tell your worker what you want or need so your views are included
Get help with a problem. Say how you want things to be different
Give feedback. Did you feel listened to? How could it be better in the future?