The Corporate Parent Committee of Ealing Council was scheduled to discuss updates on services for care leavers and developments within the Fostering and Connect service. The meeting's report pack also included minutes from a previous meeting.

Update Report Care Leavers (2025/26)

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on services for care leavers for the 2025/26 period. This report, presented by Carol Yates, Head of Service Leaving Care Operations, and Gary Odle, Care Leavers Manager, detailed the number of care leavers aged 16-25 open to the Leaving Care Service, which stood at 432 as of 31 March 2025, with an additional 70 young people receiving aftercare.

Key statistics presented were expected to include:

• Health funding for the 18+ nurse was no longer available, with plans to expand the role of the looked-after children's nurse.
• Ealing Children Services received a Good rating for services to Care Leavers in an Ofsted Inspection in April/May 2024.
• Dental care for care leavers was at 86%, exceeding statistical neighbours and the national average of 80%.
• The overall combined Key Performance Indicator (KPI) return for health was 92%.
• Immunisations had decreased by 3% to 73%.
• The percentage of 19-21 year olds in Education, Training, or Employment (ET E) was 63% as of August 2025, exceeding the target of 58% by 5%.
• The percentage of 17-18 year olds in ETE was 69% as of August 2025.

The report pack also highlighted discussions from a survey concerning housing among care leavers. Issues raised included tenancy breakdowns, a lack of sustainable move-on options, and young people feeling unsafe in Homes of Multiple Occupancy. The need for more proactive, long-term planning and support was emphasised. The report noted that private landlords often required deposits or guarantors, which presented a barrier for many care leavers. Recommendations included exploring Section 106 agreements and pan-London collaboration to improve access to housing.

The committee was also informed about the Care Leavers Take Over the Council Day, an event held on 21 November 2025, with the theme End the Care Cliff and Rising As Myself. This event saw 70 young people participate alongside over 100 Council staff and partners, including representatives from the Department of Education, health services, and local colleges. The event aimed to provide opportunities for care leavers to engage in various council roles and activities, shape services, and access employment and training. The report detailed achievements in response to feedback from care leavers, including improvements in financial support, feedback mechanisms, social and leisure activities, emotional and health support, accommodation options, educational opportunities, and employment and training prospects.

The report recommended that the committee note the annual report and provide feedback on areas for improvement.

Updates regarding the Fostering and Connect service

The committee was scheduled to receive updates on the Fostering and Connect service, presented by William Bennet, Head of Service Fostering and Connect (Children in Care). The report indicated a decrease in the number of children in care, from 345 in December 2021 to 270, a reduction of 27.5%. The service's priority is to keep families together where safe and appropriate, followed by seeking placements with connected persons, in-house foster carers, or, as a last resort, residential children's homes.

Details were provided on the fostering recruitment update, with seven mainstream carers and four weekenders approved in the current financial year. The report also outlined the ongoing assessment of nine mainstream carers and seven weekender carers.

The West London Fostering Hub, a pilot involving eight boroughs, was mentioned as a key partner for handling initial enquiries and streamlining the recruitment process. The report also provided an update on the Mockingbird Programme, a fostering initiative that links foster households to create an extended family environment. The constellation, launched in March 2025, comprised eight Ealing Satellite Carers, three kinship carers, and five regular carers, supporting 15 children. The programme receives support from a liaison worker and an in-house Child Psychologist, Dr Lori Bain.

The report also addressed external placements, noting the service's continued work with the Commissioning Alliance Dynamic Purchasing Vehicle (DPV) for independent fostering agency (IFA) and residential placements. Challenges were highlighted regarding providers being less motivated to sign up to framework agreements due to higher income from off-framework spot arrangements. Robust monitoring of external placements was in place, including a weekly panel chaired by the head of services or assistant director.

The committee was also to be updated on unregistered placements, with the service maintaining that these are a provision of last resort. Two children were currently placed in unregistered care settings, with continuous review and notification to Ofsted. Partnership working with the North West London Integrated Care Board (ICB) was also mentioned, focusing on joint funding panels and specialist behavioural support interventions. Finally, the report highlighted the use of the Mind of My Own (MOMO) app, an online platform enabling children to share their thoughts and opinions directly with social workers, with an increased drive to maximise its usage for service improvement.

The recommendation was for the Corporate Parenting Board to note the updates regarding the Fostering and Connect service.