The Corporate Parenting Panel of Lincolnshire County Council met on Thursday, 14 May 2026, to review a series of annual reports concerning the welfare and development of children in the council's care. The meeting's agenda focused on assessing the progress and challenges faced by various services responsible for supporting these young people, including those leaving care, the virtual school, independent reviewing services, and the regulation 44 independent visitors.

Leaving Care Annual Report 2025-26

The panel was scheduled to consider the Leaving Care Annual Report for 2025-26, presented by Andy Morris, Head of Service – Leaving Care. This report was intended to provide an overview of the service's progress and challenges in supporting care leavers. The report highlighted that Lincolnshire's Leaving Care Service has been working with approximately 1030 young people aged 16-25. It noted improvements in planning, safety, risk management, and multi-agency collaboration, building on recommendations from a recent Ofsted focused visit. The service has strengthened its practice, culture, and systems, with a focus on sustaining momentum and ensuring consistent, high-quality support for care-experienced young people transitioning into adulthood. The report also detailed performance in accommodation and education, employment, and training (EET), with 93.3% of care leavers in suitable accommodation and 63.8% engaged in EET. Areas for further development included refining pathway plans with clearer actions, strengthening case recording, and ensuring more timely updates to safety plans.

LCC Virtual School Annual Report 2024-2025

Sarah Lane, Virtual School Head, was scheduled to present the LCC Virtual School Annual Report for the academic year 2024-2025. This report details the work undertaken to promote the educational outcomes of children in care, children previously looked after, and children with a social worker. The report indicated that the rate of children in care in Lincolnshire, while increasing slightly, remained lower than national and regional comparators. It highlighted that 84% of children in care aged four or five were attending good or outstanding early years settings, and 96% of post-16 students were attending good or outstanding settings. The report also noted that children in care in Lincolnshire have a higher rate of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) compared to national averages. School attendance for children in care in Lincolnshire was strong, with a lower persistent absence rate than comparators. The report also addressed suspensions and permanent exclusions, noting a higher suspension rate than national and regional averages, and detailed efforts to avoid permanent exclusions through challenge and support.

Independent Reviewing Service Annual Report 2025-26

The panel was set to review the Independent Reviewing Service Annual Report for 2025-26, presented by Carolyn Knight, Head of Service Quality and Standards, and Richard Stone and Julie Vincent, Team Managers. This report provides an update on the contribution of Independent Reviewing Officers (IROs) to the quality assurance and improvement of services for children in care in Lincolnshire. The report indicated a rise in the number of children coming into care, with IROs overseeing a caseload at the upper end of recommended figures. Despite challenges posed by the geographical spread of Lincolnshire and the number of children placed out of county, the separation of the IRO role from Conference Chairs has supported the service in fulfilling its duties. The team was described as stable, supportive, and embracing challenges, with high morale and a commitment to reflective practice. The report detailed progress on priorities such as establishing the IRO Service as an independent team, working with CAFCASS, and closer collaboration with the Participation and Fostering Teams. It also highlighted the development of new consultation documents for children, titled 'My review passport', and the roll-out of new care plans with individual letters to children explaining their reviews.

Regulation 44 Independent Visitors Annual Report 2025-26

Kim Murray, Team Manager – Quality and Standards, was scheduled to present the Regulation 44 Independent Visitors Annual Report for 2025-26. This report details the work of the Independent Visiting Service, assessing how children's homes are meeting regulatory requirements and care standards. The report indicated that Lincolnshire's residential homes consistently provided safety, stability, and a child-centred approach, with strong safeguarding practices and a focus on children's wellbeing. Relationships were identified as a central strength, with staff offering patience, compassion, and support. The report highlighted positive feedback regarding the quality of care, with over 70% of Lincolnshire's Local Authority Children's Homes judged as Outstanding by Ofsted. The report detailed the performance of individual homes against nine quality standards, including the quality and purpose of care, children's views, wishes and feelings, education, enjoyment and achievement, health and well-being, positive relationships, protection of children, leadership and management, and care planning.

Children in Care Joint Annual Report 2024-25

Paul Fisher, Corporate Parenting Manager, was scheduled to present the Children in Care Joint Annual Report for 2024-25. This report provides an overview of information presented to the Corporate Parenting Panel during the year, identifying progress and challenges in the provision of care, support, and attainment for Lincolnshire's Children in Care. The report, jointly produced by Lincolnshire County Council, Lincolnshire Children's Health Service, and the Integrated Care Board, details health outcomes, placement profiles, and social care information. It highlighted that the number of children in the care of Lincolnshire County Council was 805 at year-end, an increase from the previous year. The report noted that 51.3% of children were accommodated with foster carers, and 20.0% were in kinship arrangements. It also detailed the health of children in care, including the completion of Initial Health Assessments (IHAs) and Review Health Assessments (RHAs), with ongoing work to improve timeliness. The report also covered mental health services, missing incidents, child exploitation, and care leaver services, indicating a commitment to ensuring children in care are safe, happy, and healthy.

Sufficiency Strategy 2023-2027 – Annual Update to the Action Plan

Bridie Fletcher, Senior Commissioning Officer, was scheduled to present the annual update to the Action Plan of the 'Children in Care Sufficiency Strategy 2023-27', covering the period 2025-26. This report outlines progress against the strategy's action plan, focusing on ensuring sufficient and appropriate placements for children in care. The update detailed progress in increasing in-house regulated placements, including fostering and residential homes, and improving the effectiveness of independent regulated placements. It also addressed the capacity and occupancy of in-house residential homes and the provision of supported accommodation for care leavers. The report highlighted efforts to ensure Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children (UASC) are placed in high-quality, culturally appropriate settings and that former-UASC care leavers receive effective support. The strategy aims to ensure that all children in care have access to suitable accommodation and support services.

Corporate Parenting Panel Work Programme

The panel was also scheduled to consider its work programme for the coming year, presented by Emily Wilcox, Senior Democratic Services Officer. This item allows the panel to review and comment on the planned scrutiny activities, ensuring they remain relevant and beneficial. The current work programme includes themes such as participation, keeping well (health and wellbeing), where children live (sufficiency of placements), aspirations for the future (education, training, employment), and challenges and safety (criminal justice and interventions). The agenda for the meeting itself was also outlined, detailing the specific reports to be discussed. The panel was invited to highlight any additional activities that could be included in the work programme for future consideration.