This list has been put together by young people who have attended participation groups for care-experienced children and young people facilitated by Surrey Youth Voice. The young people who created this list were aged between 13 and 25 years old and have care experience.
Whilst this list was created by care-experienced children and young people and those who have left care, it is important to note that these are only examples of alternative words and phrases that can be used. Young people feel that it is the decision of each individual child or young person to decide which words, phrases or terminology should be used.
We have listed these words alphabetically and have included a definition to help explain what the word means if you feel it will help the young person you are working with or helping. Some of these terms required additional notes and comments, in these sections are direct quotes from the young people who created this list.
The direct quotes from young people are based on their own individual thoughts, and are not reflective of all care-experienced children and young people.
A to Z
R
Resilience
Meaning: able to recover from difficulty.
Preferred:
- Adjustable
- Determination
- Flexible
- Recover
- Strength
- The strength to push through struggles
Respite
Meaning: respite care means taking a break from caring, while the person you care for is looked after by someone else.
Preferred:
- A break
- A break from where I live
- A break to get support
- Away from home for a while to reflect
- Break away
- Down time
- Sleep away
- Sleepover
- Time away from my home
Notes and Comments
"The actual meaning ['a short period of rest or relief from something difficult or unpleasant'] is a horrible way to describe respite."
"Sometimes young people have to go respite because the carers want to go on holiday, the meaning just proves they don't really care about the young person."
Restrained
Meaning: to control the actions or behaviour of someone by force, especially in order to stop them from doing something, or to limit the growth or force of something.
Preferred:
- Held or in a hold
- Held down
- physical help to stay safe
- Physical support
- Supported
Reunification
Meaning: when a looked-after child returns home to live with their birth family.
Preferred:
- Back with [parents and so on]
- Going back home
- Going back to live with my family
- Reunited
- Reuniting with birth parents