Agenda item

Report of Executive Director, Community & Children’s Services.

The Sub-Committee received a report of the Executive Director, Community & Children’s Services concerning the City of London Corporation role as a corporate parent, and the outcomes that have been achieved for the children in care during the period April 2023 to March 2024.

Officers introduced the report which sets out the achievements and work done in the past year, as well as the strengthening of processes around the corporate parenting role.

Key highlights included:

• The recognition of three City of London young people as shining stars at a Pan London awards ceremony.
• The agreement by the Court of Common Council to secure the experience of carers being akin to a protected characteristic.
• The review and launch of a revised children in care pledge last November.

In response to questions raised by Members, officers noted that the new policy recognising care experience as akin to a protected characteristic has been signed off by the Grand Committee (Community & Children’s Services Committee), which has been helpful in working with other departments, such as housing, to provide more opportunities for care leavers.

Officers noted that although only 86% of health assessments are carried out within the timescale, some assessments were delayed by a couple of days due to clinic capacity or interpreter availability, but these delays did not have a material impact on the children. It was suggested that the corporate parenting report should be sent to a full Common Council meeting for information to impress upon Members the importance of their statutory responsibility.

Members were informed that corporate parenting training has been delivered, but there is a challenge in widening the interest among the broader Council membership, with some resistance to making training mandatory. The suggestion of creating an online training package for members who cannot attend meetings was found helpful, and there are plans to investigate this.