The Corporate Parenting Advisory Committee of Cardiff Council was scheduled to meet on Monday 13 April 2026 to review progress on the Corporate Parenting Annual Plan for 2025-2026 and to discuss the Corporate Parenting Annual Plan for 2026-2027. The meeting was also set to include an update on emerging areas of work related to corporate parenting.

Q4 Progress Update

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on the progress made in Quarter 4 of the 2025-2026 Corporate Parenting Annual Plan, as well as an end-of-year status report on actions. This included a review of key progress highlights and an update on the Corporate Parenting Data Dashboard. The report indicated that the dashboard was operational and a demonstration was to be presented. Key progress highlights for Quarter 4 included updates on actions raised at previous committee meetings, such as the corporate parenting eLearning module, support groups for care-experienced parents, adopted learners, and member engagement with the corporate parenting pledge. A quarterly Key Performance Indicator (KPI) report was also to be presented, detailing progress towards targets. The Corporate Parenting Partnership Event, held on 12 February 2026 at the All Nations Centre, was to be summarised, highlighting its aim to strengthen collective commitment to children and young people looked after in Cardiff. The development of an eLearning module on Corporate Parenting for council staff and elected members was also on the agenda, with content written and design support being sought. Additionally, an update was scheduled on the Youth Service Children Looked After Information Webpage, which was live on the Youth Service website. The Bright Sparks Awards, a young person-led event celebrating achievements, was also to be highlighted. The report recommended that the committee note the Quarter 4 Progress Update and make any observations or comments.

Corporate Parenting Annual and Forward Plan

The committee was scheduled to discuss the Corporate Parenting Annual Plan for 2026-2027. This plan outlines the priorities and delivery plan for corporate parenting, detailing actions required to meet the fundamentals of corporate parenting and focusing on five key priorities. A draft of this plan was available for the committee's review and feedback. Alongside the Annual Plan, the Corporate Parenting Advisory Committee Forward Plan for 2026-2027 was to be presented, outlining proposed discussion items for future committee meetings. The structure proposed for the Forward Plan mirrored the previous year, with meetings focusing on each of the Corporate Parenting priorities and involving relevant council officers and external partners. A draft Corporate Parenting Communications Plan for 2026-2027 was also to be presented, detailing topics for internal council staff communications aimed at raising awareness of corporate parenting responsibilities and encouraging support for Children Looked After. This year's communications were intended to highlight achievements, reduce stigma, and incorporate the voice of young people. Finally, information on Member Visit Opportunities for 2026-2027 was to be outlined, allowing members to express interest in visits designed to support the development and delivery of corporate parenting priorities. An update on the best practice review concerning Care Experience as a Protected Characteristic and its alignment with corporate parenting responsibilities was also scheduled. This review involved participation in a Cooperative Councils Innovation Network (CCIN) Policy Lab, exploring how councils embed this concept and its impact. The insights gained from this work were intended to support future considerations by the committee and relevant council services.

Update on Emerging Areas of Work

An update on emerging areas of work related to corporate parenting was scheduled. This would likely cover new initiatives, policy developments, or areas of focus that have arisen since the previous meeting.

Date of Next Meeting

The date of the next meeting was scheduled for Monday, 22 June 2026, at 3:00 PM.