Topic: Starting out
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 and contains information about the support that you are both entitled to. Our team can explain exactly what it means and how to use it.
Watch Noelle explain what a support plan is and why it matters.
Why the 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 receiving based on your assessment process.
The support plan can be a powerful tool that helps you and the child you care for benefit from the right professional support. Unfortunately, many guardians don’t know the plan exists or how to use it in practice.
Your support plan can help you:
get early access to support
know exactly 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 that’s there. The plan is the place to start.
Using the support plan
The 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 you can access. The plan can change over time as the child you care for grows and your situation changes. If you think something is missing, contact our team and we can look at it together
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 much of the information in a plan can be new to you or written in technical language.
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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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Learn about behavioural support
There is a wide range of guidance, tools, therapies and courses which can help make a huge difference to the behaviour and wellbeing of the child you care for.
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If you now live outside Buckinghamshire or if you have moved into the county
If you have moved in or out of the county, your support plan can be held by another local authority. We can help clarify how to find and use your plan and connect you to the right team.