The Children and Education Scrutiny Sub-Committee met on Tuesday 18 November 2025 to discuss the council's corporate parenting accountability and efforts to combat child exploitation and serious youth violence. Key outcomes included a review of the annual corporate parenting report, highlighting the 'Outstanding' Ofsted rating for children's services, and a detailed examination of multi-agency responses to child exploitation and serious youth violence, including data on missing children and violence incidents.

Corporate Parenting Accountability

The committee received an update on the council's corporate parenting accountability, which was praised by Ofsted in January 2025 with an 'Outstanding' rating for children's services. The report highlighted the strength of the council's corporate parenting arrangements, noting that care-experienced young people have a significant voice in shaping services.

Key statistics presented showed that as of March 2025, there were 284 children looked after by the local authority, with 96% of allocated care-experienced young people (aged 17-21) in suitable accommodation. Educational progress for pupils in care showed 62% making expected progress in the spring term 2024-25, an increase from the previous year. The report also detailed the council's commitment to care experience as a protected characteristic, which has driven initiatives such as apprenticeships within the council and enhanced housing support. The refurbishment of Kitkat Terrace, a hub for young people, was also highlighted as a significant achievement.

The council's Corporate Parenting Strategy 2023 to 2028¹ was discussed, outlining priorities such as ensuring safe and stable homes, fostering trusted relationships, promoting education and aspirations, supporting health and emotional wellbeing, and embedding co-production. The strategy aims to address the unique challenges faced by care-experienced young people, with a pledge to involve all council staff and partner agencies in improving their lives.

Child Exploitation and Serious Youth Violence

The committee also reviewed the multi-agency responses and prevention efforts concerning child exploitation and serious youth violence. Data presented indicated a decline in violence incidents involving young people in the last six months of 2025, with 394 victims and 194 suspects in the second quarter. The report also detailed trends in missing children, noting a higher incidence of children going missing from care compared to missing from home.

A new 24/7 dedicated service, the Local Missing Hub (LMH), has been developed by the Metropolitan Police Service to improve responses to missing people, aiming to reduce repeat cases and the time vulnerable individuals are missing. The report highlighted the importance of daily partnership intelligence meetings involving various services, including the police, community safety, and youth services, to share information and coordinate responses.

The council's commitment to prevention was evident in the delivery of risk awareness sessions in primary schools and parent engagement workshops. Initiatives such as knife bins and bleed control kits were also mentioned as part of the public protection measures. The committee discussed the challenges in addressing disproportionality and anti-racism within responses and the need for improved partnership relationships with adult social care to support young adults transitioning out of care.