The Corporate Parenting Board meeting scheduled for 11 March 2026 was set to review updates from various teams and projects supporting children in care and care leavers. Key discussions were planned around annual reports for fostering, adoption, and private fostering, as well as the National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS).

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 previous board meeting. This would include outlining their achievements in 2025, such as speaking at the Virtual School Headteacher Conference, involvement in the PROUD Awards, and participation in the Don't Assume You Know Me podcast. Planned priorities for 2026 were also to be discussed, including the commissioning of a care leaver app, project planning across groups, recruitment for the Burnley Care Leavers Forum, and the potential reinstatement of a residential trip.

District Team Update

A presentation was planned to provide an overview of the situation for care experienced young people at a district level, focusing on the Lancaster District. This update was to be delivered by a Team Manager and care-experienced young people.

House Project Update

Young people involved in The House Project were scheduled to present an update on their project's progress.

Fostering, Adoption, and Private Fostering Annual Reports

Heidi Fliegauf and Paul Dolan from Adolescent Services, Fostering and Adoption at Lancashire County Council were due to present a summary of the annual reports for Fostering, Adoption, and Private Fostering. The Fostering Service Annual Report 2024-25 highlighted an increase in approved mainstream foster carers and children in foster care, bucking national trends. It also noted good staff retention and satisfaction, with a focus on supporting foster carers through initiatives like the Mentoring Academy and a Family Fun Day. Future priorities included strengthening fostering services, finding suitable homes for children, supporting staff, and using data for decision-making.

The Adoption Lancashire and Blackpool (ALB) report indicated a rising demand for adoptive placements while prospective adopters remained insufficient. ALB works as part of the national network of Regional Adoption Agencies, known as Adoption England, and is committed to their priorities. The report detailed successes in driving adoption support forward, including various support groups for adopted children and their families. It also highlighted improvements in the adoption panel process, though noted an increase in reports requiring improvement. Looking ahead, ALB's priorities included focusing on Early Permanence, improving Keeping In Touch arrangements with birth families, and preparing for Ofsted inspections.

National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS) Annual Report

Kirsty Clarke from the National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS) was scheduled to present a summary of the NYAS Annual Report 2024-2025, covering Advocacy and Independent Visiting services. The report detailed the purpose of NYAS, which is to provide support to children and young people through advocacy and Independent Visitors (IVs). It outlined referral numbers for both services, noting a decrease in Independent Visiting referrals but an increase in Advocacy referrals. The report also detailed the issues for which advocacy was sought, with common reasons including the Homeless Protocol, living arrangements, and statutory meetings. It highlighted successes such as offering a blended model of virtual and face-to-face support, positive feedback from young people, and discounted tickets for volunteers. Key challenges included recruiting sufficient volunteers, particularly for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, and dealing with complex issues presented by young people. NYAS also campaigns on issues such as the My Things Matter campaign regarding the moving of belongings for children in care, the Missing the Point campaign to reduce children going missing from care, and advocating for the regulation of accommodation for children in care. The report also champions the right to an Independent Visitor for every care-experienced child.