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My Expectations

My Expectations

is a charter drawn up by children and young people who have experienced the Family Courts and experienced the services of NIGALA guardians and Social Workers. NIGALA’s central mission is to hear the voices of children and young people and to place children and young people at the heart of NIGALA.

  • I should always be at the centre of everything during the care proceedings.
  • My needs, wishes and feelings must be considered at every stage of the process.
  • Judges need to listen and hear from me directly, in person or by letter.
  • It is always best for the judge to hear the powerful feelings included within my words.
  • I have to be able to build a trusting relationship with my Guardian to help me talk about my most private and painful wishes and feelings.
  • It is most important that my words are not changed when the Guardian is explaining my wishes and feelings to help the court understand my life.
  • I should also be supported by Trust Social Workers to participate in decision-making discussions at my LAC review meetings.  It’s my meeting about my life.
  • Adults should not make decisions about my life without me knowing and having been consulted to participate in decision-making discussions.
  • If things are not going well for my parents and they can’t look after me, I should have the opportunity to have a new family to help make my life a bit easier.
  • I have the right to be safe and to have a better life. Make my life as good as it can be.