The Corporate Parenting Board of Lancashire Council was scheduled to discuss the proposed Corporate Parenting Strategy for 2026-2030, receive updates on district-level activities for care-experienced young people, and review educational attainments. The meeting was also set to include an update from the Participation Team and a health update.

Participation Team Update

Young people from LINX (Lancashire's Children in Care Council) and the Care Leavers Forum (CLF) were scheduled to provide an update on their recent activities. This was expected to include details about a podcast titled Don't Assume You Know Me, which was produced in collaboration with various teams and featured four episodes released in November. The young people were also expected to share their involvement in a corporate parenting workshop focused on stigma and stereotypes. Additionally, the update was to cover LINX and CLF's nomination and subsequent win at the Amplify National Voice Awards in London, where they received the Amplify Participation Award. The launch of new e-learning training on Participation and the Lundy Model¹, co-written with young people, was also on the agenda.

Corporate Parenting Strategy 2026-2030

Andreas Feldhaar and Roxanne McAllister from the Permanence Service at Lancashire County Council were scheduled to present the proposed Draft Corporate Parenting Strategy 2026-2030 for review, comment, and approval. This strategy is a statutory requirement and is underpinned by corporate parenting principles, which emphasise listening to young people, acting on their views, supporting access to services, and maintaining high aspirations for children in care, equivalent to those for the council's own children. The current strategy, running from 2022-2026, includes eight objectives aligned with four priorities: Achieving Permanence, Lasting Homes, Health and Wellbeing, and Education, Employment, and Training. The report pack indicated that the new strategy would need to consider national reforms, including the forthcoming Children's Social Care and Schools Bill, which will extend corporate parenting duties to partners such as NHS bodies and education providers, making these statutory. The ambitions for the 2026-2030 strategy include reflecting extended duties, adopting a whole council approach, strengthening co-production, aligning with reform pillars, and recognising care experience as a protected characteristic. Board members were expected to work in groups to identify priorities, objectives, measures for progress, and key partners for the new strategy.

District Team Update

A District Team Manager, along with care-experienced young people from Hyndburn, Ribble Valley, and Rossendale, were scheduled to provide an overview of activities related to care-experienced young people at a district level. The report pack indicated that this update would cover children in care and care leavers within specific districts, detailing their living arrangements, stability and permanence metrics, and engagement in employment, education, and training. It was also expected to highlight housing and accessibility issues, as well as additional support and initiatives available to care leavers. Feedback from care-experienced young people was also anticipated.

Educational Attainments

Vanessa Nice from Education Improvement at Lancashire County Council was scheduled to present an overview of the 2024/25 exam results for children in care.

Health Update

Caroline Waldron from the Safeguarding Team at NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board was scheduled to provide an update on ongoing activities and the current position regarding the health perspective of meeting statutory and corporate parenting responsibilities.