The Corporate Parenting Panel of Lincolnshire Council is scheduled to consider its work programme and learn about Life Story Work with young people. The meeting will also include discussions on the Fostering Service and Adoption Service annual reports, as well as the annual report of the Corporate Parenting Panel's activity and the Greater Lincolnshire Children in Care and Care Leavers Council, known as Voices for Choices.

Corporate Parenting Panel Work Programme

The panel is scheduled to review its work programme for the coming year. This review aims to ensure that scrutiny activity is focused where it can be of greatest benefit. The work programme will be revisited at each meeting to confirm its ongoing relevance and value to the council and its partners. Members are invited to note the current work programme and suggest any additional activities for consideration. The programme includes planned discussions on Children in Care Performance, Private Fostering, Children in Care Joint Annual Health, and the Regional Adoption Agency Annual Report for the upcoming months.

Life Story Work

A significant part of the meeting is dedicated to understanding Life Story Work. During this session, councillors are expected to learn about how this process helps children and young people understand their experiences. The panel will hear directly from Ambassadors of Voices 4 Choices, an organisation that supports care-experienced young people. Attendees will have the opportunity for informal discussions with these ambassadors.

Fostering Service Annual Report and Statement of Purpose

The panel is scheduled to consider the Fostering Service Annual Report for 2025/26 and the Statement of Purpose for 2026/27. Discussions are expected to cover the positive performance of the fostering service and ongoing investment in recruitment, marketing, and support to increase in-house fostering capacity. The reports are anticipated to detail efforts to reduce reliance on independent fostering agencies and out-of-county placements. The role of kinship carers, who are expected to receive the same support as mainstream foster carers, will also be a point of discussion. The reports are also likely to address the process of reunification with families, which is expected to follow robust assessment and multi-agency review.

Adoption Service Annual Report and Statement of Purpose

The meeting agenda includes consideration of the Adoption Service Annual Report for 2025/26 and its Statement of Purpose for 2026/27. Discussions are anticipated to touch upon foster carers progressing to adoption and the potential benefits of fostering-to-adoption arrangements, also known as Early Permanence. The reports are expected to outline recruitment activities aimed at increasing visibility within communities and challenging misconceptions about who can adopt, with a particular focus on under-represented groups such as Eastern European communities. The role of regional adoption arrangements in matching prospective adopters with children from a wider geographical area will also be discussed.

Annual Report of Corporate Parenting Panel Activity

The panel is scheduled to review its own annual report for 2025/26. This report is expected to highlight the importance of evidencing the impact of children and young people's views on service development and decision-making. Plans to strengthen reporting in this area are likely to be discussed, alongside the increasing involvement of children and young people in shaping the panel's work. The growing participation of young people and the focus on providing feedback on actions taken in response to their concerns are also expected to be key discussion points.

Greater Lincolnshire Children in Care and Care Leavers Council (Voices for Choices) Annual Report

The annual report for 2025/26 from the Greater Lincolnshire Children in Care and Care Leavers Council, known as Voices for Choices, is scheduled for consideration. Discussions are expected to explore how future reports can better demonstrate the impact of the Corporate Parenting Panel's work through the inclusion of key performance measures and outcome data. Officers are expected to provide updates on the development of regular reporting on the impact of children and young people's participation, including actions taken in response to issues raised. Examples of children and young people influencing service development and commissioning activities are anticipated to be highlighted. The report is also expected to cover improvements driven by young people's views, such as more accessible review letters and the development of the Leaving Care Service. The involvement of care-experienced young people in the recruitment of foster carers through a young people's panel is also a planned discussion point.