Issue - meetings

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Children and Enterprise, which sought approval of the Pledge to Children in Care.

The Board was advised that the Government’s Green Paper, Care Matters: Transforming the Lives of Young People in Care and the White Paper Care Matters: Time For Change, identified steps needed to improve the outcomes for children and young people in care.

The report noted that the role of Corporate Parent had responsibility for the wellbeing and future prospects of children in care and care leavers. In order to improve that role, the Government had indicated its expectation that:

·       Every local authority should put in place arrangements for a Children in Care Council;

·       Every local area should set out its ‘Pledge’ to children; and

·       The Director of Children’s Services and Lead Member for Children’s Services should be responsible for leading improvements in corporate parenting.

The Board noted that a copy of the Pledge, attached as an appendix, represented the twelve key things which children in care and care leavers had identified as improving outcomes for them. The Care Leaver’s Charter, attached at appendix 2, was the document circulated by the Department of Education, but a number of additional matters relating to Halton had been included and highlighted for Members’ consideration.

Reason(s) for Decision

The Children and Young Persons Act 2008 strengthened the role of the corporate parent. The Government required every local area to set out its ‘Pledge’ to children in care and care leavers covering the services and support that they should expect to receive.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

There was no prescribed format for a Pledge to children in care and care leavers. Halton’s ‘Pledge’ had been designed and reviewed by the Children in Care Council and care leavers and therefore it was the one they would like the Executive Board to endorse.

Implementation Date

Immediate.

RESOLVED: That

1)    the Pledge be endorsed;

2)    the action to promote the Pledge so it is known to the Council, Children’s Trust and other partners, be endorsed;

3)    actions to support the commitments to Children in Care be noted; and

4)     the Pledge to Children In Care be presented to the full Council meeting on 16 October 2013.