Purpose

In October 2023 the County
Council agreed a motion
to treat care experience as a protected characteristic. In order to
translate that commitment into action it is proposed to implement a
new Strategy - Ending Discrimination for People with Care
Experience in West Sussex Strategy 2026 – 2031.
 
The aim of the strategy is to
ensure the County Council reflects care experience in decision
making, in developing new policies and practice and helps drive an
improved understanding of care experience amongst partners and the
public. The Strategy will also set out how the needs of Care
Leavers and Care Experienced individuals will be met and provides a
framework for the future planning, commissioning and provision of
services to improve outcomes.
 
The Cabinet will be asked to
endorse adoption of the Ending Discrimination for People with Care
Experience in West Sussex Strategy 2026 – 2031.

Decision

Following consideration of
the report the Cabinet resolved:
To
approve the adoption of the Ending Discrimination for People with
Care Experience in West Sussex Strategy 2026 – 2031,
including the five year implementation
plan to treat care leavers and care experienced people as a
protected characteristic.
The call-in deadline
is 12 February 2026.