Our plans for children in and leaving care
About corporate parenting and how we look after children and young people in our care.
Corporate parenting
Corporate parenting is the term used to describe our legal responsibility to act as a good parent to the children and young people that we look after.
We must make sure they feel safe and secure, have stability in their lives and are supported to achieve their full potential.
Children and young people in and leaving the care system often face considerable challenges. They are amongst the most vulnerable groups in our community and need us as corporate parent to make sure they get access to the same opportunities as any other young person.
Our corporate parent priorities
We have 5 key priorities as corporate parent. We worked together with our looked-after children and young people to identify and agree them. They are:
Nothing about us without us – working together with you to shape the services and decisions that affect your life. Making sure we hear your voice, listen to your feedback and use this to ensure we are the best corporate parent we can be for you.
Education, employment, training – like any good parent, we are ambitious for you and what you can achieve, whatever that looks like for you – the sky is the limit. Everything we do will be about supporting you to progress working through barriers and challenges. We want there to be opportunities to suit everyone and we will support you along the way.
Healthy mind, healthy body – as a good parent, we want to be sure that you stay healthy, both physically and mentally. We acknowledge that as children in care and care leavers, you will be impacted by your adverse childhood experiences and trauma. Together we will work to ensure you can get the help you need, when you need it so that you can live a healthy and fulfilling life.
A place to call home – you will have a safe, stable, and caring place to call home and live in an environment where you can thrive. Children in care will have access to high quality care and living arrangements. Housing options for care leavers will be individually right for them to move onto independent, stable living arrangements, when is right for you.
Safe, connected, thriving – we want all young people to feel accepted and that they belong in their community. Wherever possible, we will do all we can to support young people to be cared for by those within their networks. Where this is not possible, we will ensure that all young people understand why they have come into care and support them to maintain and build lasting relationships with their family and network.
Our promises
To demonstrate our commitment we have made a pledge to children in care which we have called our promises. We promise to:
- ask you which people are important to you and ensure you keep in contact with them if it is safe to do so
- make sure you are involved in the plans we make for you about your future – we will ask for your opinion and take account of what you say
- make sure that you have somewhere to live and can make it your home
- provide you with information about your care, new opportunities and your rights
- support you to discover your talents and abilities and find ways for you to make the most of these
By upholding these promises we are prioritising what children and young people have identified as most important to them.
Plans and strategies
Our corporate parenting strategy sets out how we will fulfil our corporate parenting responsibilities.
It commits us to listening to children and young people about what is important to them including their views about how well we are delivering our promises and improving their lives.
The strategy is one of several linked strategies addressing our key priorities, including:
- Joint health and wellbeing strategy 2021-25
- Safeguarding board annual report and business plan
- SEND strategy and co-production charter
Corporate Parenting Board
The Corporate Parenting Board (CPB) is an advisory body made up councillors and council officers which oversees our corporate parenting system and puts cared-for children and care leavers at the heart of everything we do.
One of its responsibilities is to make sure children and young people’s voices influence council policy.
Our local offer for care leavers
Our local offer for care leavers includes information about the services and support available for care leavers in South Gloucestershire.