Topics: Your rights, Caring for a child and Money
Use your support plan
Every child gets a personal support plan at the start of their guardianship. Not just a legal document, your plan is tailored for you and the child you care for. It contains information about the support that you are both entitled to. Our team can explain what it means and how to use it.
Noelle explains what a support plan is and why it matters.
Why your support plan matters
You should be given a support plan at the beginning of your special guardianship order. It’s a document that describes the different types of support the child you care for would benefit from based on your assessment process.
Your plan is a powerful tool that helps you and the child you care for get the right professional support.
Your plan can help you:
get early access to support
know what support is available to the child you care for
understand how different types of support may benefit the child you care for
Whether it’s for you or the child you care for, it’s important to take advantage of the support available. Your plan is the place to start.
Noelle explains how you can review and update a child's existing support plan.
Using the support plan
Your support plan is created based on the needs of the child you care for. It will typically include recommendations for therapeutic support and practical advice. That doesn’t always mean talking to therapists – it might also recommend apps, school-based support and other specialist help.
If you’re not sure where your support plan is, contact our support team. They can help you find a copy and talk through what it means and where to start.
Support plans are formal documents, so they aren’t always written in the clearest way. Don’t worry – you’re not expected to know what everything means.
Think of the plan as a starting point. Use it to identify and understand the professional services that your child can access.
Your plan can change over time as the child you care for grows and your situation changes.
If you think something is missing from your support plan, contact our team and we can look at it together.
Note: If you now live outside Buckinghamshire or recently moved to the county, your support plan may be held by another local authority. We help you find and use your plan, and connect you to the right team.
Things you can do now
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Find your plan
Your plan should be with the documents sent by the legal team or solicitor when your order was granted. Can’t find it? Contact us and we can help.
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Read your plan
Go through your plan and make notes where you have questions. We can talk you through it and give you the answers you need. It’s natural to have questions, as some information may be new to you or written in technical language.
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Contact our team
We can help you put your support plan into action and make sure you feel confident and clear about the options and rights available to you and the child you care for.
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Access our services
You can see the main services we offer on this website, from support with behaviour to contact with family and joining a guardian group.
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Get behavioural support
There is a wide range of guidance, tools, therapies and courses that can make a huge difference to the behaviour and wellbeing of you and the child you care for.