Purpose

This report puts forward proposals for commitments the local
authority can make as ‘corporate parents’ to improve
experiences and outcomes for children in our care and care
experienced young people. This includes adopting ‘Care
Experienced’ as a Protected Characteristic (as recommended in
the Independent Care Review) to tackle inequality for our young
people. The proposals within this report align with the Corporate
Parenting Strategy for Tower Hamlets which is also scheduled to go
to Cabinet in July 2023.

Content

DECISION:
 
1.           
Recognise that care experienced people are a group likely to face
discrimination.
 
2.           
Agree to treat care experience as if it were a Protected
Characteristic, conducting Equality Impact Assessments for future
services and policies.
 
3.           
Proactively seek out and listen to the voices of care experienced
people when developing new policies.
 
4.           
Include care experience in the publication and review of Equality
Objectives and annual information relating to Protected
Characteristics.
 
5.           
Call upon all other local organisations and partners to treat care
experience as a Protected Characteristic and adopt corporate
parenting principles.
 
6.           
Identify and review barriers impacting care experienced people in
recruitment, offering guaranteed interviews for eligible
applicants.
 
7.           
Encourage statutory partners and small businesses to adopt similar
employment practices.
 
8.           
Establish a cross-council approach to creating opportunities for
care experienced individuals, including training for recruiting
managers and support into apprenticeships.
 
9.           
Report progress and achievements in the annual Corporate Parenting
Board report and lobby central government for care experience to be
a protected characteristic.
 
10.        
To note the Equalities Impact Assessment / specific equalities
considerations as set out from Paragraph 4.1 of the report.
 
11.        
Note this report at the next Full Council meeting.
 
ACTION BY:
CORPORATE DIRECTOR CHILDREN AND
CULTURE, (J. THOMAS)
Director Supporting Families (S.
Beasley-Murray)