The Corporate Parenting Board of Lancashire Council was scheduled to discuss the proposed Corporate Parenting Strategy for 2026-2030, receive updates on the participation team, district teams, educational attainments, and health matters. The meeting also included a review of the minutes from the previous meeting and any other business.

Corporate Parenting Strategy 2026-2030

A significant portion of the meeting was allocated to reviewing and potentially approving the proposed Draft Corporate Parenting Strategy 2026-2030. Andreas Feldhaar and Roxanne McAllister from the Permanence Service at Lancashire County Council were scheduled to present this strategy. The strategy, a statutory requirement, is intended to guide the council's corporate parenting responsibilities from 2026 to 2030. It is underpinned by corporate parenting principles that emphasise listening to young people, acting on their views, supporting access to services, and maintaining high aspirations for children in care, equivalent to those for the council's own children. The current strategy (2022-2026) has eight objectives aligned with four priorities: Achieving Permanence, Lasting Homes, Health and Wellbeing, and Education, Employment and Training. Key achievements from the current strategy were to be highlighted, alongside consideration of national reforms, such as the forthcoming Children's Social Care and Schools Bill, which will extend corporate parenting duties to partners like NHS bodies and education providers. The ambitions for the new strategy include reflecting extended duties, adopting a whole council approach, strengthening co-production, aligning with reform pillars, fostering multi-agency ambition and improved outcome monitoring, and recognising care experience as a protected characteristic. Board members were scheduled to work in groups to identify priorities, objectives, measures for progress, and key partners for the new strategy.

Participation Team Update

Young people from LINX (Lancashire's Children in Care Council) and the Care Leavers Forum (CLF) were scheduled to provide an update on their activities since the last Board meeting. This update was expected to include details on initiatives such as the Don't Assume You Know Me podcast, which shared stories and experiences of care-experienced young people and staff, and a corporate parenting workshop focused on stigma and stereotypes. The young people were also expected to share their success at the Amplify National Voice Awards, where LINX and CLF won the Amplify Participation Award. Additionally, an update on new e-learning training on Participation and the Lundy Model, co-written with young people, was scheduled to be presented.

District Team Update

The Board was scheduled to receive an overview of the situation for care-experienced young people at a district level. This update was to be provided by a District Team Manager and care-experienced young people from Hyndburn, Ribble Valley, and Rossendale. The presentation was expected to cover key highlights regarding children in care and care leavers within these districts, including their accommodation arrangements, stability and permanence, engagement in education, employment, and training, and housing and accessibility.

Educational Attainments

Vanessa Nice from Education Improvement at Lancashire County Council was scheduled to provide an overview of the 2024/25 exam results. This would offer insight into the educational achievements of children in care and care leavers.

Health Update

Caroline Waldron from the Safeguarding Team at NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board was scheduled to present an update on health-related matters. This update was to focus on ongoing activities and the current position regarding the fulfilment of statutory and corporate parenting responsibilities from a health perspective for children in care and care leavers.

Notes of the Meeting and Matters Arising

The Board was scheduled to review and agree the accuracy of the notes from the previous meeting held on 19 November 2025, and to receive any matters arising from those minutes.

Any Other Business

This section of the agenda was allocated for any other urgent matters that needed to be raised.

Date and Time of Next Meeting

The date and time for the subsequent meeting were scheduled to be confirmed.