What is Gimi care?

Welcome to Gimi care! This part of the Gimi website is for all young people who are supported by North Yorkshire County Council children's social care (was known as social services).

This includes anyone who has a social worker, those who live in foster care and residential care, and those who have left care to live independently.

Gimi Care will give you information about:

• your rights;
• entitlements;
• what's happening with the young people's council;
• links to helpful websites;
• policies;
• find out how you can have a voice;
• download leaflets;
• key contact numbers.

Please take some time to look through all the information.

Let us have your thoughts and ideas, we want to know; what you like, what you don't like, what you'd like to see more of, any comments about services for young people, in fact, anything that is important to you.  So please let us know by clicking on the feedback tab.

You can also get help and information from the following services:

• NYAS - National Youth Advocacy Service - If you are a care experienced young person and feel that people are not listening to what you want/need, then maybe having an advocate will help? NYAS help children and young people to have a voice by providing independent and confidential advice and information. Check out the website www.nyas.net, freephone 0800 61 61 01, text 0777 333 4555, or email help@nyas.net
• Rights 4 Me is the official website for the Office for the Children's Rights Director for England (OCRD). They spend lots of time listening to what children and young people who live away from home have to say about how they are looked after. If you live away from home then this is the place to find out about your rights and a way for you to be heard. For more information go to www.rights4me.org
• ChildLine - Free and confidential helpline for children & young adults in the UK.  Need to talk? Call ChildLine on 0800 1111 or check out the website www.childline.org.uk
• OFSTED - Inspects local authorities to find out how well they are protecting and looking after young people. The purpose of inspection is to ensure that your social care service continues to meet the National Minimum Standards and the needs of children and young people who use the service. NYCC was inspected in 2009, to find out what OFSTED said got to www.ofsted.gov.uk

Check out the download 'It's your home' below - this guide is for children and young people being looked after by North Yorkshire County Council's children's social care.  It aims to give you lots of info about all the support you will get as a 'looked after' young person.