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RESOLVED: that
Cabinet:
a)   
Agreed to ‘support and treat care experienced
as if it were a Protected Characteristic’ until such time it
becomes legislation.
b)   
Recognised that care-experienced people are a group
who are likely to face discrimination.
c)   
Recognised that Councils have a duty to put the
needs of disadvantaged people at the heart of decision-making
through co-production and collaboration.
d)   
Agreed ‘To Adopt the Corporate Parenting
Principles’ until such time it becomes
legislation.
 
This will mean:
·        
Agreeing that future decisions, services, and
policies made and adopted by the Council should be assessed through
Equality Impact Assessments to determine the impact of changes on
people with care experience alongside those who formally share a
protected characteristic.
·        
Agreeing that in the delivery of the Public Sector
Equality Duty, the Council includes care experience in the
publication and review of Equality Objectives and the annual
publication of information relating to people who share a protected
characteristic in services and employment.
·        
Continuing to proactively be seeking out and
listening to the voices of care-experienced people when developing
new policies based on their views.
·        
Formally calling upon other bodies to treat care
experienced as a Protected Characteristic until such time as it may
be introduced by legislation.
·        
Formally calling upon all other bodies who work
closely with children in care and care leavers to adopt corporate
parenting principles for children in care and care leavers until
such time as it may be introduced by legislation.
 
REASONS RESOLVED:
·        
It will enable WNC to align with around 46 other
Councils who have already committed to this.
·        
It will prevent care experienced young people from
having to face some of discrimination which other protected groups
may face, supporting this enables us to start to level the playing
field for this group of young people.
·        
It supports the Councils corporate parenting
responsibility and supports our Equality Policy.
 
ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS:
As outlined in the report, no
issues or choices are set out.