Corporate Parenting Panel

One of the most important things a council does is to look after and protect children and young people. This is particularly important for those children we care for and care leavers, and the whole Council has a responsibility to do all it can to support these children and young people to live meaningful and fulfilling lives and be the best parent it can be – its corporate parenting responsibility.   The Corporate Parenting Panel is a consultative panel made up of our children, young people, councillors, officers, partners and carers to raise and champion its universal corporate parenting responsibilities and ensure it is the best parent it can be to children we care for and care leavers, and that all children can achieve their full potential. The Panel has a Children First focus on the lived experiences of children currently cared for by the Council and those young people who are care leavers to ensure that their views set our priorities and shape what we do and how we tackle challenges and embed improvements into practice.   The purpose of the Panel is to:   ·           Act as a consultative panel for the Council and other professionals, to raise awareness of the Council’s universal corporate parenting responsibilities and duties.   ·           Oversee the progress of our children and young people including all health and wellbeing needs (education, physical and mental health).   ·           Monitor the delivery of our ‘Aspiration’ and how we are ensuring our children and young people have the power to develop and influence the service.   ·           Ensure that all children, young people have a positive experience and that the strategy enhances their outcomes.   ·           Encourage all partners to work together (support and challenge each other) in the best interests our children and young people.   ·           Ensure frontline teams are active members of the panel.   ·           Lead cultural and behavioural change to promote better outcomes for our children and young people, ensuring everyone is on a level playing field that is approached openly and honestly.   ·           Engage and hold all agencies to account (including; Children in Care Council, County Council, district and borough councils, Education, Health, Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services, Children’s Social Care and voluntary organisations) for their role in the delivery of services to our children and young people.   The Panel holds at least five meetings per year with each meeting focused on a specific theme as set out in its work programme. The Panel is chaired by the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Learning along with the Chair of our Children in Care Council and Chair of our Care Leavers Advisory Board and a Corporate Parenting Report is also presented to full Council on an annual basis to highlight the work and impact of the Panel.