What is Corporate
Parenting?
In the UK we have approximately 62,000 looked
after children, who are often referred to as 'children looked
after’. They are cared for by the
local authorities, either with foster carers or, occasionally, in
residential homes.
The duties of the local authority to these
children are often referred to as 'corporate parenting
responsibilities'. Here in West Sussex we normally have between 600
and 650 looked after children, each of whom has an allocated social
worker to design the individual care plans that will best meet
their needs.
The Children Looked After and Care Leavers
Strategy outlines how we intend to meet our responsibilities, which
will be delivered through the Quality Improvement Plan devised and
monitored by the Multi Agency Children Looked After Improvement
Group, and subject to the scrutiny of The Children in Care Council
and the Corporate Parenting Panel.
What the Corporate
Parenting Panel does
The Corporate Parenting Panel aims to ensure
that West Sussex County Council undertakes its duties as corporate
parents for all children looked after and care leavers it is
responsible for, so that young people can achieve their full
potential and a successful transition into adulthood.
The Panel does this by ensuring the services
provided for children and young people looked after by us are of
good quality and meet their needs. It works with all elected
members and officers within the County Council, colleagues from
partner agencies and children and young people who are looked
after.
Key elements of its role are to:
• act as advocates for children
looked after and care leavers to the Leader of the County Council,
the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People and other cabinet
members as appropriate
• contribute to the development of
the Children Looked After and Care Leavers Strategy and monitor
progress against it
• endeavour to ensure that our
‘Pledge’ to children looked after and care leavers is
delivered
• monitor the effectiveness of the
Virtual School and its governing body in improving the educational
attainment of children looked after and care leavers
• raise members’ awareness
and understanding of children looked after and care leavers, their
needs and experiences, and consider how all members can contribute
to improving results
• to report to the County Council
when appropriate and at least once a year.