What is corporate parenting?
When a child is in the care of the council, we become their corporate parent. This means we take on the responsibilities of a parent and share parental responsibility in some cases.
We are committed to acting as any good parent would - ensuring children in our care:
- are safe, healthy and happy
- do well in education
- build positive relationships
- have opportunities to thrive and become independent adults
Placement and accommodation
When a child becomes looked after, there must be a sufficient range of accommodation options available to be able to match the child to a placement that will meet his/her needs. It is our aim that children and young people experience being cared for in a stable and nurturing environment with a sense of belonging. This can only be achieved if we have quality carers and provision is varied and can meet a range of needs
Our legal duty
We meet our sufficiency duty under Section 22G of the Children Act 1989, ensuring there is enough suitable accommodation for children in care.
Reducing disadvantage
Children become looked after for many reasons and may face disadvantages compared with their peers. As corporate parents, we work to:
- make their experiences in care positive
- reduce or remove disadvantage
- support them into adulthood with confidence and opportunity
Who is involved?
Corporate parenting is a shared responsibility across Child and Adult Services, supported by:
- our Fostering and Adoption Team
- dedicated foster carers
- a wide network of professionals and our partners
Further guidance
You can view and download the following documents: