The Children, Families and Skills Scrutiny Committee of Lancashire County Council met on Wednesday, 22 October 2025, to discuss key issues surrounding corporate parenting, the Lancashire House Project, and the Where Our Children Live programme. The committee approved recommendations related to these areas, including plans for future scrutiny of the Corporate Parenting Strategy and the Lancashire House Project's fourth cohort.

Corporate Parenting Strategy

The committee reviewed the current performance, priorities, and challenges of Lancashire County Council's corporate parenting approach. Jennifer Robertson, Head of Service for Children in Our Care and Care Leavers, presented the report, highlighting the council's commitment to ensuring children in care and care leavers receive the support, stability, and opportunities they need to thrive. Key priorities include achieving permanence for children, improving the sufficiency of homes, enhancing health and wellbeing, and improving education, employment, and training outcomes.

The report detailed that as of August 2025, there were 1,741 children in care in Lancashire, a significant reduction from March 2019, attributed to the Family Safeguarding Model. The Leaving Care service supports 1,529 care leavers, with 1,151 currently accessing services. Foster care remains the most common placement type, with 66.5% of children placed with foster carers. The committee noted the progress made in achieving lasting homes for children, with 73.6% in stable placements, and improvements in placement stability, with 74.3% of children under 16 having lived in the same home for two or more years.

Areas for future focus include closing the attainment gap in education for children in care, improving access to social housing for care leavers through collaboration with district councils, and supporting care leavers into education, training, or employment. Transitional safeguarding for young people with complex needs and enhancing participation opportunities for young people were also identified as priorities. The committee agreed to add the review of the Corporate Parenting Strategy in 2026 to its work programme, with a recommendation to hear back from the Cabinet Member for Children and Families in April 2026.

Lancashire House Project

The committee received an update on the Lancashire House Project, a supported living pathway for young people aged 16-17 preparing to leave local authority care. Launched in 2022, the project aims to provide secure, affordable, long-term accommodation and a structured development program to equip young people with the skills needed for independent living. Jennifer Robertson and Aidan Clough, Digital Engagement and Events Planner for Children in Our Care and Leaving Care, presented the project's progress.

The project currently supports 40 young people, with 65% engaged in education, employment, or training. A significant achievement highlighted was that no participant in the House Project has ever lost their tenancy. Challenges remain, primarily due to limited housing stock, which restricts the project's expansion. The committee discussed the need for increased collaboration with district councils and Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) to expand the property offer, particularly in the East of Lancashire. The committee recommended that the progress of the House Project's fourth cohort, due to move into homes in Spring 2026, be reviewed in April 2026.

Where Our Children Live Programme

The committee also reviewed the Where Our Children Live (WOCL) programme, a strategic initiative to increase in-house children's home provision. John Withington, Senior Residential Manager, presented the programme's progress, highlighting the aim to provide 50% of residential provision in-house by 2027. The programme focuses on acquiring and remodelling properties to create family-feel homes, alongside recruitment and retention of skilled staff.

Significant progress has been made in Phase 1 with the operationalisation of Lavender Lodge and the transformation of Sunflower House into a SPACE Hub. Red Rose, Sunshine Lodge, and Oak Manor are awaiting Ofsted registration. Phase 2 is progressing with homes like Clove Cottage operational and awaiting registration, while Rose Cottage and Stoney View are under construction. The programme aims to reduce reliance on costly agency homes and keep children closer to their families and communities. The committee discussed the challenges of property acquisition, workforce recruitment, and Ofsted registration delays, but noted the programme's commitment to meeting the statutory duty to provide sufficient accommodation. The committee agreed to consider how to further support this area of work and noted the financial implications, with a projected capital investment of £14.4 million and anticipated annual recurring savings of £5.2 million by 2026/27.

Work Programme

The committee noted the Children, Families and Skills Work Programme for 2025/26, which outlines upcoming reports and key lines of inquiry. The next meeting, scheduled for 3 December 2025, will include a report on the Principal Social Worker's findings regarding the social care workforce and agency spend, and a presentation from Families First. The committee also discussed the possibility of sending a letter to district councils to encourage their engagement with the Lancashire House Project.