Frequently asked questions

Q. What is the Barnardo's Seraf Service?

A.     Barnardo’s Seraf Service provides long term support to young people aged under eighteen who are having difficulties like missing school, running away, may be in relationships they’re unhappy with or doing sexual things they don’t really want to do. These things can lead to abuse and sexual exploitation.
Our aim is to support young people to help keep them safe and happy. Each young person has a one to one worker who will support them around problems they might be having where they live or at school. We can look at things like low self esteem, understanding healthy relationships, body image, personal safety, drugs, alcohol, self harm, sexual health and difficulties with family or friends or whatever you feel is important for you.
We want young people to achieve their goals and ambitions and feel good about themselves.

Q. What does sexual exploitation mean?

A.    This is a difficult question and everyone’s situation is different. Sexual exploitation may mean that someone may be forcing or coercing you to have sexual contact with them, or other people. It could also be an adult taking advantage of a situation that you are in to get you to have sex with them. This could include sexual contact in return for money, drugs, somewhere to stay, gifts or favours. What we do know though is that whatever your situation is, you are not at fault and with your worker you can think about ways you can feel safer and happier with your life.

Q. How would you support me?

A.    Our sessions with you will be flexible and focused on you. We aim to help you explore your situation in a way that is most comfortable for you. This could include leisure activities, chatting about stuff, art work, music, drama, quizzes, games, DVDs and worksheets. It all depends on what you like the most!

Q. Who told you about me?

A.    Your Social Worker was concerned about you and asked us if we would give you support.

Q. I dont agree that I am at risk, what does that mean for our work?

A.    It won’t affect our work at all. We will often have different view points and that’s ok! We will meet with you and support you whatever your viewpoints are about your situation at that time.

Q. Who decides what we will do when we meet?

A.    You and your worker will plan what you do together. You can say at any point if you are unhappy or happy with any thing we do.

Q. Where will we meet?

A.    We can be flexible in where we meet you. It could be at your home, at Seraf or somewhere else, depending on where you feel comfortable or safe.

Q. Is what I tell you confidential?

A.    Our work is for the most part confidential.
We encourage everyone who uses our Service to feel free to discuss their situation and to be sure we will believe you.
What you tell your worker will stay between you and your worker and the Seraf team, unless you give us explicit permission to share information with others and agree what is said.
The exception to this is if you tell us something that we don’t already know that makes us believe you or any one else is in a life-threatening situation or that you are a danger to yourself or others. This is to keep you safe. We will always discuss this with you.
Your worker will talk to you about this in more detail.

Q. Do you go to meetings about me?

A.    Yes we do. We will always try to ask you what your views are about the meeting and about what is going on in your life and together we will think about the best way for you to express your opinions.

Q. What if I miss an appointment?

A.      We like to meet you regularly so we can keep in touch with what is going on with you. We know that sometimes you might miss an appointment. If this does happen it will never affect our work with you. We will also try our best never to miss an appointment with you. On the very rare occasions that we can’t keep an appointment with you we will let you know as far in advance as we possibly can.

Q. Do you keep records on me?

A.    Information about you and our sessions together is kept on both a paper file and a computer file. It is kept safely and confidentially at Seraf.
Your worker will give you more information about this.