The Corporate Parenting Panel of Warwickshire Council met on Monday 29 September 2025 to discuss updates from the Voice, Influence & Change Team, Warwickshire's Children's Homes, performance data, future plans for WCC Children's homes, and the Adoption Annual Report. The panel was also scheduled to discuss the development of the work programme and items on the forward plan.

Warwickshire Children's Homes Future Plan

The panel were scheduled to discuss the future plan for Warwickshire County Council (WCC) Children's Homes. The report pack included a document titled Future Childrens Home Development, which outlined why children's homes are needed, the national approach, and the circumstances in which they may be required for short or long term use.

The report explained that in some circumstances, homes were required because the family home may not be suitable or safe. It said that after exploring all options, including connected or kinship carers, a child may need the stability that a Children's Home can provide. It noted that officers often had to look to the extended market to satisfy the matching process, but this was often costly and may be out of area.

The council started a project in 2021 to purchase and maintain a stock of children's homes in Warwickshire. According to the report, the first property purchased was Cherry Tree House in Stratford upon Avon, followed by Acorn Lodge and Oak Tree in Leamington, Beechwood House in Bedworth and Silver Birch House in Nuneaton. The report stated that one of the aims was to minimise instability, and the project had five homes open accommodating 15 children, three of which had been rated Good with Ofsted and two were pending inspection.

The report pack also included the minutes from the previous meeting on Monday 16 June 2025, where Rachel Boswell, Head of Homes for Children, introduced the report, outlining why Children's Homes were needed, the national approach and the circumstances in which they may be required for short or long term use.

Adoption Annual Report

The panel were scheduled to discuss the Adoption Annual Report. The report pack included three documents relating to adoption:

• WCC Adoption Report 24.25
• Adoption Central England Annual Report 2024-25 Final Draft
• ACE Adoption Panel Annual Report 2024-25 Final

Voice, Influence & Change Team Updates

The panel were scheduled to receive updates from the Voice, Influence & Change Team. At the previous meeting on Monday 16 June 2025, Debs McGarvey, Team Manager, and Melissa Philips, Family Support Worker, addressed the Panel and gave an overview of the work undertaken in the last quarter along with an explanation of the team structure.

According to the minutes, the staff within the team had a range of lived experience and aimed to hear and listen to families, sharing that information with colleagues and managers.

The officers provided an update on the Care Experience apprentices, two of whom had now secured posts in the council. Members were also advised of the different networks the council worked with including IMPACT, the Children in Care Council and Parent Carer Voice.

Performance Data

The panel were scheduled to discuss performance data. At the previous meeting on Monday 16 June 2025, John Coleman, Director of Children and Families, presented the most recent performance information as of 30 April 2025. According to the minutes, a number of areas were highlighted including:

• The number of Children in Care totalling 734, an increase of seven since 31 March 2025
• Monthly trend of children in care, including an increase of unborn children coming into care
• The number of Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking children (UAS) and the statutory duty on the Council was explained with figures maintained at about 89 children
• A breakdown of the placement types, including family and friends foster care, those placed for adoption and agency foster care
• The numbers of individuals leaving care, aged 16 to 21

Development of the Work Programme and Items on the Forward Plan

The panel were scheduled to discuss the development of the work programme and items on the forward plan. The report pack included a document titled Work Programme September 2025.

The minutes from the previous meeting on Monday 16 June 2025, noted that the panel received the work programme and agreed to plan for the following:

September

• Fostering annual report
• Adoption annual report
• Children's Homes future strategy
• Briefing on the Children's Wellbeing Bill

November

• Virtual school attainment, attendance and exclusions
• Kinship Offer
• Youth Justice, custody and children in care and care leavers

January

• Children in Care and Care leavers health needs- report
• Children in care and mental health offer
• Update on Foster Carer Recruitment

March

• Review of the Care Leaver Offer
• Missing and Exploitation of children in care and care leavers.