The Corporate Parent Committee of Ealing Council met on Thursday 10 September 2026 to discuss a range of important issues concerning children in care and care leavers. Key topics included an update on the Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) survey action plan, the regionalisation of fostering services, and a proposed restructure of the corporate parenting service. The committee also received updates on the Children in Care Council, the Care Leavers Take Over Day, and the Virtual School.

Children in Care Council (Ealing Voices in Care)

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on the relaunch of Ealing Voices in Care, a refreshed Children in Care Council and Care Experienced Participation Framework. This initiative aims to strengthen the voice and influence of children in care and care leavers by establishing age-appropriate participation groups: Bright Voices for younger children (7-11 years), Voices in Action for older children and young people (12-17 years), and the Care Leaver Collective for those aged 18-25. The report highlighted that young people desired to be listened to, receive quicker responses to concerns, and have clearer information about who to contact for support. Care leavers raised concerns about HMO accommodation, safety, anti-social behaviour, mental health, and loneliness, emphasising the need for tangible action resulting from participation activities. The recommendations included noting progress in relaunching Ealing Voices in Care, supporting continued development of meaningful participation, and endorsing future participation priorities related to housing, wellbeing, education, employment, communication, and service accessibility.

HMO Survey Action Plan

A report was scheduled to update the committee on the action plan developed in response to a survey concerning young people living in Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs). The survey, which involved forty young people, revealed concerns regarding safety and anti-social behaviour, poor cleanliness and maintenance of communal areas, affordability pressures, limited opportunities to resolve conflicts between tenants, and uncertainty regarding future move-on options. The action plan proposed recommendations to strengthen tenancy sign-up processes, conduct comprehensive affordability assessments, develop a strategic HMO placement/matching framework, establish formal landlord engagement arrangements, and implement an Independent Living / Safe Steps Package. The survey data indicated that while HMOs remain an essential housing resource for care leavers, improvements are needed in preparation, oversight, and tenancy sustainment.

Care Leavers Take Over Day

The committee was set to receive an update on the planning and preparations for the Care Leavers Take Over Day, scheduled for 6 November 2026. The event's theme was Leading the Way: From Experience to Empowerment, aiming to provide care experienced young people with opportunities to influence services, develop skills, and gain insight into the Council's operations. Preparations involved engagement from a broad range of council departments and external partners, with planned opportunities including shadowing senior leaders, participation in consultations, and community visits. The report highlighted the event's alignment with corporate parenting commitments and its role in promoting equality and reducing disadvantage for care experienced young people.

Corporate Parenting Restructure

An update was scheduled regarding the proposed restructure of the corporate parenting service. This restructure aims to align services with national reform agendas, including the Department for Education's (DfE) regionalisation of fostering and the national Families First Partnership Programme, as well as Ealing's local Connected Communities vision. The proposed changes are intended to strengthen permanence planning, ensure access to stable homes, and amplify children's voices within care planning. Specific details of the restructure were not yet available as a formal consultation process with staff was pending.

Regionalisation of Fostering

The committee was to be updated on the move towards an end-to-end regional fostering recruitment model, as outlined in the DfE's Renewing Fostering Reforms – Homes for 10,000 More Children. Ealing has been part of the Foster with West London (FWL) hub since May 2024, which has already seen a 45% increase in approved foster carers across the region. The report noted that while the FWL hub has been valuable, the expansion of its remit to cover the full recruitment process will require additional investment from local authorities as DfE funding tapers. There is a risk that the regional programme may not achieve the anticipated increase in child places, potentially impacting local authorities' ability to meet statutory responsibilities. The report also mentioned the development of a pan-London Regional Care Cooperative (RCC).

Virtual School Annual Report

The committee was scheduled to review the 2024-2025 academic year report for the Ealing Virtual School. Despite challenges such as declining numbers of children looked after (CLA) and reduced grant income, the Virtual School maintained a focus on educational stability and high expectations. Improvements in data quality through the Welfare Call system were noted, strengthening oversight and strategic planning. Key Stage 4 outcomes for children looked after compared favourably with national benchmarks, with priorities for further improvement including raising attendance and addressing disproportionality. The report indicated that the number of children in care was falling.

Update on Fostering and Connect Service

An update was planned on the Fostering and Connect Service, which aims to support children to remain with their families where safe, or to live in alternative care arrangements. The service prioritises placements with family members or connected persons, followed by in-house foster carers, and then Independent Fostering Agency (IFA) placements. Residential children's homes are considered only as a last resort. The report highlighted a significant reduction in the number of children in care, from 345 in December 2021 to 240. The service aims to increase in-house placements and reduce reliance on external providers. Initiatives such as the Mockingbird Programme and Weekender Fostering were also detailed, alongside progress in foster carer recruitment and permanence planning.

Update report re Leaving Care service

The committee was to receive an update on the Leaving Care service, which supports care leavers aged 16-25. The service continues to face national pressures due to a growing cohort, housing shortages, and cost-of-living challenges. Ealing has supported 374 care leavers as of March 2026, many with complex needs. The report indicated that Ealing had exceeded corporate Education, Employment, and Training (EET) targets for care leavers. Partnerships with various organisations provide specialist support, but concerns were raised about time-limited funding requiring forward planning. Risks included the potential loss of externally funded roles and programmes beyond April 2026.