Zahara's story - Independent Care Review

This is one of 12 composite stories. That means this story is not a real person but has been written to reflect the experiences the Care Review heard.

This film shows what the Care Review learned from talking with children, young people, their families and carers. The Care Review spent time with children and young people to ask how they felt about the stories.

They liked the stories, made some excellent changes and said that children and young people would see themselves in them.

Thank you to every single person who selflessly shared their views, ideas and experiences with the Care Review.

Zahara's story

When Zahara was 5, her dad became unwell and she went to live with a new family. She’s now 8 and lives with different family. Zahara likes to joke this means she has 3 dads but she hasn’t been able to see the first 2 since she left their homes.

Zahara isn’t sure why this is, or why she’s different to her friends. She remembers the teddy she left when she first moved and wishes she had it now. She keeps the teddy she has now with her as much as she can in case she needs to move again.

Zahara is in Primary 4 and has lots of friends at school. She finds school work really difficult though and struggles to ask for help. The easiest days are Tuesdays and Thursdays when a teacher sits with her and helps her with her work. The rest of the time, Zahara is very quiet in class.

Zahara feels different at home. She gets upset easily and sometimes wonders why she feels so angry. Everyone tries to help her but no one seems to know how.

Read the Care Review's reports online: https://bit.ly/2Uywvco