The Corporate Parenting Panel of Lincolnshire Council met on Thursday 23 July 2026 to review performance data for children in care and to consider the panel's work programme. The meeting also included discussions on how to foster a sense of belonging for young people in care.

Children in Care Performance Report Quarter 4

The panel was scheduled to receive a report from Tara Jones, Assistant Director – Children's Safeguarding, detailing the performance data for children in care during the fourth quarter of the 2025/26 financial year. The report included a range of performance indicators, with some areas exceeding targets and others not achieving them.

Key performance areas scheduled for discussion included:

• Adoption Timelines: The average time between a child entering care and moving in with an adoptive family was reported as 466 days, which exceeded the target of 520 days. The average time between a local authority receiving court authority to place a child and deciding on a match to an adoptive family was 154 days, achieving the target of 170 days.
• Placement Stability: The percentage of children in care experiencing three or more placement moves was 9.54%, which did not achieve the target of 9%. Similarly, the percentage of children in care in the same placement for at least two years was 63.54%, falling short of the 70% target.
• Health and Well-being: The percentage of children in care with up-to-date dental checks was 90%, exceeding the target of 80%. Routine immunisations were also up-to-date for 90.9% of children in care, exceeding the 80% target. However, the percentage of children in care with an up-to-date health check was 85.8%, which did not achieve the target of 95%.
• Educational Attainment: The persistent absence rate for children in care was 17.2%, exceeding the target of 18%. The percentage of looked-after children gaining 9-5 GCSEs in Maths and English was 7.7%, achieving the target of 9%. A high percentage of statutory school-aged children in care had an initial Personal Education Plan (PEP) within 10 working days, at 92%, achieving the target of 90%.
• Readiness for Adult Life: The percentage of 16-17 year old children in care participating in learning was 86%, achieving the target of 90%. The percentage of care leavers in suitable accommodation was 94.39%, achieving the target of 95%. The percentage of care leavers in education, employment, or training was 61.23%, achieving the target of 60%.
• Children in Care Numbers: The rate of children in care per 10,000 population aged under 18 was 58.73, which did not achieve the target of 51.9. The percentage of children in care living within a family environment was 77.86%, also not achieving the target of 82%.

The report invited the Panel to consider and comment on this performance information and recommend any actions or changes to the Executive Councillor for Children's Services.

Corporate Parenting Panel Work Programme

Emily Wilcox, Senior Democratic Services Officer, presented the Corporate Parenting Panel's work programme for the coming year. The programme outlined scheduled meetings and the key items to be discussed at each. This included thematic meetings focusing on Belonging, Family and Friends Networks, as well as regular reviews of performance reports, annual reports from various services such as Adoption, Fostering, and the Virtual School, and updates on the Sufficiency Strategy. The Panel was invited to note the work programme and suggest any additional activities for inclusion.

Belonging, Family and Friend Networks

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to discussions and presentations on Belonging, Family and Friend Networks. This segment was designed to provide councillors with insights into various initiatives aimed at fostering a sense of connection and support for young people in care. The agenda indicated that presentations would cover topics such as Family Time, Family Group Decision Making, Life Links, and Reunification. Crucially, the Panel was scheduled to have the opportunity to interact with young people to gain a better understanding of their experiences in these areas.