The Corporate Parenting Panel met on Monday 29 June 2026 to discuss updates on the local offer for care leavers, participation activities, the corporate parenting panel review, the improvement plan, and performance reports. Key decisions included noting the updated local offer for care leavers and the progress on the improvement plan, with a focus on enhancing support and engagement for young people in care and care leavers.

Local Offer for Care Leavers 2026-2027

The panel received an update on the refreshed Care Leaver Local Offer, which has been rewritten to be clearer, more accessible, and meaningful to young people. This update, developed in collaboration with care-experienced young people and informed by the Ofsted inspection, aims to improve clarity on available support, use simple language, enhance navigation, and strengthen the visibility of entitlements. The offer now includes specific sections for care leavers who are parents and those who have been in or are leaving custody. Future plans include developing short videos for each section, easy-read versions, translations, and a relaunch to services and partner agencies. The aim is to improve young people's understanding of their rights, increase engagement with services, and support smoother transitions to independence.

Participation Activity Report

An update was provided on the work of the Participation Service, highlighting consultations with children in care and care leavers regarding the future format of the Corporate Parenting Panel. Young people expressed a desire to be involved in decisions pertinent to their care, with a preference for older, care-experienced individuals to act as ambassadors. They also indicated a keen interest in receiving information about the panel's decision-making through newsletters. The report detailed the recruitment of five paid ambassador roles from fourteen interviewed experts by experience. Additionally, it noted that 23 learners had completed the Money Ready training, with a projected 73 completing it by the end of the year, representing a 284% increase in attendance. The service also facilitated recreational activities, including a trip to see Disney's Hercules and a skiing taster session.

Corporate Parenting Panel Review Update

The panel discussed the ongoing review of the Corporate Parenting Panel (CPP), with the aim of redesigning how it engages with children in care and care leavers and how it discharges its corporate parenting responsibilities. The review seeks to create a more participatory, young-person-centred model, aligned with recommendations from Mark Riddell and supported by the Lead Member for Children, Councillor Hitesh Karia, the Local Authority, and strategic partners. A core working group has been convened to consult with relevant parties and gather feedback to inform the redesign. The process includes exploring constitutional changes to establish a dedicated Children and Young People Service scrutiny subcommittee and potentially a Corporate Parenting Board that is not a public meeting, to facilitate more confident participation from young people. The review also involves observing models in other local authorities, such as Islington and Hillingdon, and actively engaging with young people and partners to co-produce the new structure.

Improvement Plan Update

An overview of progress against Harrow's Care Leavers and Corporate Parenting Improvement Plan was presented, aligning with recommendations from Mark Riddell, Ofsted findings, and Children's Services priorities. Key areas of progress include the content update to the Care Leaver Local Offer, agreement of the Family Business Model for employment and training opportunities, recruitment of Ambassadors, stability in caseloads for Personal Advisors, and proposed changes to the Corporate Parenting Panel. The plan indicates that much of the improvement work is on track, with a focus on governance, workforce development, participation, and an enhanced multi-agency Local Offer.

Performance Report

The panel received an update on activity and provisional performance for children looked after (CLA) and care leavers at the end of Q1 2026-27. Overall CLA numbers showed a reduction from the previous year, with Harrow's rate of CLA per 10,000 remaining below statistical neighbour and national averages. While performance in areas such as health reviews and dental checks was strong, challenges remain in the education, employment, and training (EET) figures for care leavers, particularly for older care leavers. The report highlighted efforts to address these challenges through initiatives like the Family Business Model and the Pathway to Education, Employment & Training Panel. Placement stability for children looked after was noted as an area requiring continued focus, with work underway to stabilise children in placements and support positive moves where appropriate. The report also indicated that most key performance indicators for looked-after children were within target, with focused work addressing areas not meeting targets.