ABSTRACT
Children 'looked after' by the state are in a different position from other children in regard to the making of decisions in their lives. One difference is in the number of adults who have some responsibility for them, either day-to-day or in relation to longer-term planning. As well as parents and foster carers there are social workers and their managers, and on occasion representatives from other agencies may also be involved; so that instead of decisions being taken by one or two adults with whom the child is in daily contact, there may be up to a dozen people, including some who are relative strangers to the child, sharing in the decision-making process. Another difference, at least in the UK, is that children looked after by local authorities have a clear legal right to be consulted before decisions are taken by those responsible for looking after them, whereas other children have no such right unless their upbringing becomes a matter for a court to determine. Children who are looked after are also subject to more such decisions than others; most children do not have formal decisions taken about where they should live or who should take care of them, because these things are taken for granted.
