The Corporate Parenting Board is scheduled to meet on Thursday, 7 May 2026, to review its annual report and discuss key areas of support for children in care and care leavers. The meeting agenda includes updates on life story work, NEET (Not in Employment, Education, or Training) initiatives, and the board's work plan.

Corporate Parenting Board Annual Report

The board will consider its annual report for 2025-2026, which details progress on its pledges to children in care and care leavers. The report highlights achievements in increasing mainstream foster homes, improving educational outcomes for looked-after children, and expanding apprenticeship opportunities. It also notes ongoing work to address the emotional health and wellbeing of young people, including access to specialist mental health services. The report states that the number of looked after children in Worcestershire has remained stable and at the time of writing is 1041 children. ¹

Life Story Work

A significant portion of the discussion is expected to focus on Life Story Work, which aims to help children understand their past, identity, and future. The report indicates that while Ofsted has recognised the quality of this work where it is undertaken, there are significant gaps in its provision. Currently, 198 children (19.1 percent) have Life Story Work recorded out of 1,036 children in care, with many more children not having this vital support documented. The report notes that children in stable foster care placements and those who have been in care longer are more likely to have this work completed, while those in residential care or earlier in their care journey are less likely to benefit. The report also highlights that for children with Special Guardianship Orders, only 13% have Life Story Work recorded.

NEET Task and Finish Group Report

An update is scheduled on the work of the NEET Task and Finish Group. This group has been focusing on the effectiveness of the NEET strategy and has met with key officers and visited the Careers Hub at The Hive, Worcester. The group is considering recommendations such as improving the timeliness of discussions about accommodation for young people, increasing the availability of short courses, providing dedicated key workers for care leavers, and engaging employers willing to accept care leavers. The report indicates that the group's recommendations will be presented to the board upon completion of its work.

Timeout Card Update

The board will receive a verbal update on the Timeout card initiative. This initiative, suggested by a care-experienced young person, aims to provide children with a way to signal their needs during review meetings. The report from the previous meeting indicated that all Independent Reviewing Officers (IROs) have these traffic light cards and that feedback on their use is being received.

Work Plan

The board's future work plan will be presented for noting and consideration. The plan includes upcoming discussions on the Annual IRO Report, SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) and actions to prevent young people becoming looked after, post-25 care leaver support, and the Care Leavers Annual Report.