Decision Maker: Council

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Date of Decision: March 19, 2025

Purpose:

Content: RESOLVED: 1.      This Council is a legal corporate parent to 498 children and young people with the responsibility to be good parents to all the Looked-After Children (LAC) in its care as well as all the care experienced young people. These young individuals face significant challenges in their transition to independence, particularly in accessing employment opportunities. 2.      This Council recognises: a)      Milton Keynes City Council’s Local Offer to care leavers, that offers support with housing, education, employment training, health & wellbeing, life skills, and confidence to deal with the challenges upon the progression to adulthood. b)      The Care Leaver’s Hub which provides support for care experienced young people aged 16-25, an area of the City Council that was graded by Ofsted as ‘Outstanding’ in December last year.  c)      The hard work of the team who manage the Care Leavers Hub, including the personal advisors, as well as the colleagues who provide specialist support.  d)      The support already offered to care leavers in Education, Employment, and Training (EET), as well as access to a dedicated careers advisor to help with work experience opportunities in construction, retail, hospitality, warehouses, and childcare sectors; and e)      Opportunities for work experience, apprenticeships, and employment within the City Council, as well as mentoring opportunities with the council’s senior leadership team. f)       The further support offered by the council which includes the offer of an interview for all Milton Keynes care leavers with relevant experience and qualifications for the job they are applying for, as well as roles within the council specifically for care experienced young people. 3.      This Council notes that: a)            The "Unlocking Opportunities", was created on feedback from LAC, and is a campaign that seeks to bridge this gap by engaging local businesses and the community in providing work placements for Looked-After Children, fostering skill development, confidence, and social mobility. b)            Work experience and paid employment plays a critical role in improving life chances by breaking cycles of disadvantage, expanding professional networks, and opening doors to employment and further education. c)             Many businesses and community members in Milton Keynes are eager to contribute to social good and create opportunities for young people but require clear guidance and support to do so effectively. d)            A collaborative approach—between the council, businesses, and the community—is essential to ensuring that Looked-After Children have access to the same opportunities as their peers. e)            That the recent OFSTED ILACs inspection rated Milton Keynes City Council’s Children’s Services as an overall rating of “Good” with “Outstanding,” in the area of the Experience for Care Leavers, and commends the work undertaken by all those involved in delivering the improvement to council services since the last inspection. 4.      That this Council believes: a)      As corporate parents, all councillors, council officers, and stakeholders have a shared responsibility to improve the life chances of Looked-After Children. b)      Work experience and employability support are not luxuries but essential steps in preparing these young people for adulthood and economic independenceand commends the work undertaken through schemes such as personal advisors in supporting this aim. c)      The council should continue to lead by example by continuing to provide opportunities within its own departments and partner organisations for Looked After Children and acknowledges the contribution of the work care leavers make to the council in their roles. d)      There is an opportunity to further expand the goodwill and partnerships working to enhance and improve the resources and opportunities available to young care leavers and achieve further success in this area, rather than rely on additional funding. e)            Fostering stronger collaboration between the council, businesses, and the community will directly benefit Looked-After Children, improving their future prospects and reducing long-term dependency on council servicesand the state in general. 5.      Members commit to: a)      Attending some of the events run by the Corporate Parenting team for our Children in Care and Care Experienced young people, which members are often invited to. b)      Exploring work experience and paid internship opportunities for our Looked-After-Children and Care Experienced young people within businesses and organisations they have strong connections to and linking the Corporate Parenting team with these businesses to further expand and diversify our offering to our children. 6.      This Council resolves to: a)      Continue to fulfil its corporate parenting responsibility by ensuring Looked-After Children in Milton Keynes have access to meaningful work experience and paid employment opportunities. b)      Continue to engage with local businesses, charities, and council departments through careers fayres where opportunities are already offered to care leavers and explore how a structured pathway for work placements can be created, ensuring young people receive the support they need. c)      To remove potential barriers where appropriate and safe to do so for businesses that want to provide placements and employment by offering clear guidance, support, and flexibility. d)      To continue to demonstrate leadership by making work placement and employment opportunities available within council departments and services, encourage examples of best practice within the council to be shared to further improve performance, setting the standard for other organisations to follow. e)      Ask officers to make appropriate arrangements (in consultation with the relevant Portfolio holder) to: i)               Consider relocating the Care Leaver’s Hub to Central Milton Keynes to ensure it is easily accessible to all care leavers. ii)             Consider establishing a Steering Group with local partners to develop a Skill Path Hub to include a supportive learning environment for all young people across the city to gain work experience in the hospitality, retail, tech, health & safety, logistics, and customer service sectors. f)              Support the Corporate Parenting team’s mission to create an allotment garden for our young people who cannot access ‘traditional’ employment opportunities due to disability or health. g)            To report back on progress within the year, ensuring that this commitment translates into real opportunities for young people.