What Decisions Can I Make?

Young people should be supported to make their own decisions if possible.

Delegated authority is the term used when the responsibility for making day to day decisions about a young person is passed to you. Poor planning around delegation of authority can delay decision-making and lead to cared for young people missing out on opportunities that enable them to experience a fulfilled childhood.

A social worker can pass the delegated authorities onto you if the local authority has obtained an Emergency Protection Order or a Care Order.

Young people over the age of 16 can give consent to certain things in their own right if they have mental capacity to do so. Young people aged 16/17 are generally able to give their own consent to medical treatment. They can also consent to their own Care Plan if there is no court order.

When deciding whether a young person, on a particular occasion, has sufficient understanding to make a decision, the following questions should be considered:

• Can the young person understand the question being asked of them?
• Do they appreciate the options open to them?
• Can they weigh up the pros and cons of each option?
• Can they express a clear personal view on the matter as distinct from repeating what someone else thinks they should do?
• Can they be reasonably consistent in their view on the matter, or are they constantly changing their mind?

Please see Mental Capacity Act.

Regardless of a young person’s competence, some decisions cannot be made until a child reaches a certain age, for example, tattoos are not permitted for a person under age 18.

Delegated authority should be consistently monitored in case there is a need for change and discussed at the young person’s review or with the young person’s social worker if the decision needs to be taken quickly.