The Corporate Parenting Committee was scheduled to consider updates on the council's Corporate Parenting Strategy and the annual health report for children looked after. The committee was also scheduled to review and agree its work plan for the upcoming year.

Corporate Parenting Strategy 2026-2030

The committee was scheduled to review and comment on the draft Corporate Parenting Strategy for 2026-2030 and its accompanying Delivery Plan. This strategy, developed with input from over 241 children and young people, aims to ensure that every child and young person in the council's care feels safe, loved, and listened to, with opportunities to thrive. The strategy is built around four key priorities: Your home and money, Your learning and career, Your health and wellbeing, and Your identity and belonging. The report highlighted that children from Black/Black British and mixed/multiple global majority groups are overrepresented in the care population, and that over 40% of statutory school-age children in care have identified special educational needs. The strategy's delivery plan is intended to be a live document, regularly reviewed and updated based on feedback from children and young people.

Annual Health Report for Children Looked After

The committee was scheduled to receive an overview of the health services provided to children in care and care leavers in Southwark between April 2025 and March 2026. The report was to detail the performance of services against key indicators such as dental check-ups, immunisations, and health assessments, with a particular focus on mental health support. The report noted a demographic shift towards older children entering care and highlighted inequities in service provision. It also mentioned budgetary challenges, including a mandated cost reduction impacting the work of Designated Nurses for Looked After Children. The report indicated that 42% of children in care in Southwark are recorded as Black or Black British, a higher proportion than the national picture and the local population not in care. Key performance indicators showed high completion rates for health assessments and dental assessments, though immunisation uptake remained a priority. The report also detailed identified health needs, with social, emotional, and mental health (SEMH) needs being the most prevalent.

Corporate Parenting Committee Work Plan 2026-27

The committee was scheduled to agree its work plan for the municipal year 2026-27. The work plan outlines the committee's role and functions, which include securing improvements in the life chances of looked-after children, developing and monitoring the corporate parenting strategy, and ensuring that the views of looked-after children and young people are sought and acted upon. The plan also details the committee's scheduled meetings and the key items intended for discussion at each, including updates from Speakerbox¹, the Corporate Parenting Strategy, and annual reports on health, adoption, and fostering services.