Goal 5: Access information, Join Your Community and Be Heard

We want to empower you be an active part of your community, your society and allow your voice to be heard. Your Social Worker or Personal Advisor will help you to:

• Know Your Rights: We will go through Enfield’s Local Offer with you and show you how to use the Care Leavers online portal so you understand your rights and the support available to you.
• Access Your Records: We will help you see your records and make sense of them if you request it. 
• Get Important Documents: We will help you get important documents like your Passport, National Insurance Number (NINO) and birth certificate (if you were born in the UK). We will help you obtain any identification required to vote.
• Understand Democracy: We will provide you information about voting and help you understand how local and national elections work and how you can influence decisions that affect your community.
• Access other Important Forms: like your Care Plan, Health Passport, Pathway Plan or your Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).
• Digital Access and Inclusion: We will help you develop the digital skills needed for everyday life and independence. We can support you to access technology, internet connectivity, online information, and digital services where support is available. This can help you participate in education, training, employment, manage your finances, access public services, stay connected with important people, and have your voice heard in your community.
• Share Your Thoughts: We will listen to your views and provide opportunities for you to influence the support you receive and help shape Enfield’s Care Leavers Service.
• Make a Complaint: We will tell you how to make a complaint, suggest improvements and get independent help.
• Independent Advocacy: You have the right to access independent advocacy if you help understanding your rights, expressing your views, attending meetings, making a complaint, challenging decisions, or ensuring your wishes and feelings are heard and respected. An advocate is independent of Children’s Services and can support you to have your voice heard and make informed choices about your future. We can help you access and advocate whenever you need one.
• Interview Panels: If you want, you can join interview panels to help choose new staff members.
• Join Groups: You can join the Care Leavers Forum or other specialist peer support groups for  young people including LGBTQ+, young parents, or asylum-seekers at the Care Leavers Hub.
• Care Leavers Hub: The Care Leavers Hub is available both in person and online. Through the Hub you can access emotional wellbeing support, employment advice, housing support, immigration advice, life skills workshops, mentoring, specialist support groups and participation opportunities.
• Care Leavers Forum: Our Care Leavers Forum gives young people the opportunity to influence services, co-produce projects, sit on recruitment panels, attend the Corporate Parenting Board and help shape decisions that affect care-experienced young people locally and nationally.
• Get Involved and Have Your Voice Heard: We will support you to take part in community activities, volunteering opportunities, sports and leisure activities, local events, celebrations and projects. We will help you connect with cultural, faith and community groups that are important to you and your identity, so you can build skills, confidence, relationships, and a sense of belonging. You can also explore a wide range of opportunities, events, and activities with our Participation Officer for Care Leavers and join Enfield’s Youth Development Service to develop your skills, confidence, leadership abilities, and have a voice in your community.
• Celebrate You: We will celebrate and respect your culture, religion, beliefs, identity, sexuality, language and heritage and achievements. Since 2019, we have held an annual celebration to mark National Care Leavers month.