Corporate Parenting Strategy action plan 2025 to 2028

The Corporate Parenting Strategy commits to 10 pledges that outline how we, as Corporate Parents, will support Children Looked After and Care Leavers. These 10 pledges outline what that will look like, forming this action plan, keeping the strategy measurable and accountable across the 3-year period.

The 10 pledges outline that we promise to do our best to:

Support you in the same way as if you were our own child but acknowledge your individual circumstances.
Listen to your wishes and work on finding the best solution.
Consistently update you in a way that you prefer.
Work with schools and colleges and educate your local community to reduce the possibility of being bullied.
Work with you, so you know how to be safe.
Support you to get the education and training you need to help you to develop your skills and achieve your goals in life.
Offer opportunities for you to manage your physical and mental wellbeing.
Encourage and empower you to feel confident in who you are, ensuring you have the resources and care needed to thrive as your authentic self.
Provide you with a safe and secure place to live.
Commit to engaging with every child in our care, including those living out of borough.

Pledge 1

We promise to do our best to support you in the same way as if you were our own child but acknowledge your individual circumstances

Responsible officer: Team Manager: Life Chances

Timeline: September 2025

Link to other action plans or strategy initiatives: Not applicable

Expected outcome:

Comprehensive care plans with multi-disciplinary input, ensuring holistic support for children.

Responsible officer: Virtual School and Team Manager: Family Placement

Timeline: September 2025

Link to other action plans or strategy initiatives: Not applicable

Expected outcome:

Foster carers are equipped to provide sensitive and inclusive care.

Responsible officer: Child Participation Development Worker

Timeline: September 2025

Link to other action plans or strategy initiatives: Not applicable

Expected outcome:

Consistent understanding and implementation of corporate parenting responsibilities.

Responsible officer: Team Manager: Conference and Review

Timeline: September 2025

Link to other action plans or strategy initiatives: Care Leaver review - Mark Riddell (DfE advisor) and leaving care self-assessment

Expected outcome:

Continuous oversight and support for young people transitioning out of care.

Responsible officer: Leaving Care ATM

Timeline: September 2025

Link to other action plans or strategy initiatives: Care Leaver review - Mark Riddell (DfE advisor)

Expected outcome:

Pathway plans are thorough and address all aspects of a young person’s transition to adulthood.

Responsible officer: Head of Service: Life Chances

Timeline: April 2026

Link to other action plans or strategy initiatives: Care Leavers Covenant and My Things Matter campaign

Expected outcome:

Enhanced support and resources for care-experienced children and young people through partnerships with organisations dedicated to their wellbeing.

Increased advocacy and awareness of the needs and rights of care-experienced individuals.

Improved outcomes through coordinated efforts and shared expertise.

Pledge 2

We promise to do our best to listen to your wishes and work on finding the best solution

Responsible officer: Child Participation Development Worker

Timeline: Reviewed annually

Link to other action plans or strategy initiatives: Not applicable

Expected outcome:

Active participation from children in care and continuous improvement based on their feedback.

Responsible officer: Head of Service: Life Chances

Timeline: April 2025

Link to other action plans or strategy initiatives: Not applicable

Expected outcome:

Regular updates and actionable steps to support care leavers.

Responsible officer: Head of Service: Family Safeguarding

Timeline: April 2026

Link to other action plans or strategy initiatives: Not applicable

Expected outcome:

Increased engagement and self-advocacy among care-experienced individuals.

Responsible officer: Head of Service: Life Chances

Timeline: September 2025

Link to other action plans or strategy initiatives: Care Leaver review - Mark Riddell (DfE advisor)

Expected outcome:

Focused discussions and targeted actions on key issues affecting children in care.

Pledge 3

We promise to do our best to consistently update you in a way that you prefer

Responsible officer: Team Manager: CLA, CSST, Family Safeguarding

Timeline: September 2025

Link to other action plans or strategy initiatives: Not applicable

Expected outcome:

Effective and preferred communication methods are used, ensuring children feel heard and understood.

Responsible officer: Head of Service: Specialist Services Family Safeguarding

Timeline: April 2025

Link to other action plans or strategy initiatives: Not applicable

Expected outcome:

All children and young people, including those with complex needs, can effectively communicate their needs and preferences.

Responsible officer: Team Manager: Life Chances

Timeline: April 2025

Link to other action plans or strategy initiatives: Not applicable

Expected outcome:

Children and young people are kept informed and reassured about their care arrangements.

Responsible officer: Team Manager: Life Chances

Timeline: April 2025

Link to other action plans or strategy initiatives: Not applicable

Expected outcome:

Smooth transitions with clear communication, reducing anxiety and confusion for children and young people.

Pledge 4

We promise to do our best to work with schools and colleges and educate your local community to reduce the possibility of being bullied

Responsible officer: Assistant Director: Education and Learning

Timeline: September 2025

Link to other action plans or strategy initiatives: Not applicable

Expected outcome:

Safe and supportive school environments for children in care.

Responsible officer: Virtual School

Timeline: September 2025

Link to other action plans or strategy initiatives: Not applicable

Expected outcome:

School staff are equipped to support children in care with an understanding of trauma.

Responsible officer: Assistant Team Manager: Children Looked After

Timeline: September 2025

Link to other action plans or strategy initiatives: Not applicable

Expected outcome:

Care-experienced individuals have access to necessary resources and ongoing support.

Pledge 5

We promise to do our best to work with you so you know how to be safe

Responsible officer: Team Manager: Life Chances

Timeline: September 2025

Link to other action plans or strategy initiatives: Not applicable

Expected outcome:

Young people are informed and empowered to stay safe.

Responsible officer: Child Participation Development Worker

Timeline: September 2025

Link to other action plans or strategy initiatives: Not applicable

Expected outcome:

Children and young people know how to seek help when needed.

Pledge 6

We promise to do our best to support you to get the education and training you need to help you develop your skills and achieve your goals in life

Responsible officer: SEND Service Lead and Children’s Social Care

Timeline: September 2025

Link to other action plans or strategy initiatives: Not applicable

Expected outcome:

EHCPs are reviewed on a timely basis and accurately reflect social care needs of the child.

Responsible officer: SEND Service Lead, Children’s Social Care and Adult’s Social Care

Timeline: September 2025

Link to other action plans or strategy initiatives: Not applicable

Expected outcome:

EHCPs support the transition to adulthood with clear goals for future independence.

Responsible officer: Virtual School Headteacher

Timeline: September 2025

Link to other action plans or strategy initiatives: Not applicable

Expected outcome:

Sufficient support for children and young people’s education outcomes.

Responsible officer: Virtual School Headteacher (Elevate Lead)

Timeline: April 2025

Link to other action plans or strategy initiatives: Not applicable

Expected outcome:

Young people are prepared for employment and further education opportunities.

Responsible officer: Head of Service: Life Chances / Head of HR

Timeline: September 2025

Link to other action plans or strategy initiatives: Not applicable

Expected outcome:

Practical work experience opportunities that help young people build skills and confidence.

Responsible officer: Head of Service: Life Chances / Head of HR

Timeline: September 2025

Link to other action plans or strategy initiatives: Care Leaver review - Mark Riddell

Expected outcome:

Increased opportunities for care leavers to gain work experience and build professional networks.

Responsible officer: Virtual School Headteacher (Elevate Lead), Leaving Care ATM, Head of Standards and Effectiveness

Timeline: September 2025

Link to other action plans or strategy initiatives: Care Leaver review - Mark Riddell

Expected outcome:

More care leavers are engaged in education, employment or training.

Responsible officer: Leaving Care ATM

Timeline: April 2025

Link to other action plans or strategy initiatives: Life Chances action plan (CYP review)

Expected outcome:

Current and comprehensive information is available to care-experienced individuals.

Responsible officer: Virtual School Headteacher

Timeline: April 2025

Link to other action plans or strategy initiatives: Life Chances action plan (CYP review)

Expected outcome:

Additional support to compliment school and college education.

Pledge 7

We promise to do our best to offer opportunities for you to manage your physical and mental wellbeing

Responsible officer: Senior Safeguarding Lead and Designated Nurse for Children and Young People in Care

Timeline: April 2025

Link to other action plans or strategy initiatives: Not applicable

Expected outcome:

Regular health assessments to monitor and support the wellbeing of children in care.

Responsible officer: Senior Safeguarding Lead and Designated Nurse for Children and Young People in Care and Team Manager: Life Chances

Timeline: April 2025

Link to other action plans or strategy initiatives: Not applicable

Expected outcome:

Children in care are encouraged to lead healthy lifestyles.

Responsible officer: Senior Safeguarding Lead and Designated Nurse for Children and Young People in Care

Timeline: September 2025

Link to other action plans or strategy initiatives: Life Chances action plan (CYP review)

Expected outcome:

Care leavers have access to necessary medications without financial barriers.

Responsible officer: Senior Safeguarding Lead and Designated Nurse for Children and Young People in Care

Timeline: September 2025

Link to other action plans or strategy initiatives: Care Leaver review - Mark Riddell

Expected outcome:

Health needs of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children are regularly monitored and addressed.

Responsible officer: Senior Safeguarding Lead and Designated Nurse for Children and Young People in Care

Timeline: September 2025

Link to other action plans or strategy initiatives: Life Chances action plan (CYP review)

Expected outcome:

Mental health support is available to all care leavers.

Pledge 8

We promise to do our best to encourage and empower you to feel confident in who you are, ensuring you have the resources and care needed to thrive as your authentic self

Responsible officer: Child Participation Development Worker

Timeline: September 2025

Link to other action plans or strategy initiatives: Not applicable

Expected outcome:

Children looked after and care leavers are supported in pursuing their interests and hobbies.

Responsible officer: Team Manager: Life Chances

Timeline: September 2025

Link to other action plans or strategy initiatives: Not applicable

Expected outcome:

Care-experienced individuals have access to their personal history and important documents.

Responsible officer: Assistant Director: Children’s Social Care

Timeline: September 2025

Link to other action plans or strategy initiatives: Care Leaver review - Mark Riddell

Expected outcome:

Care Leavers receive additional protections and support.

Pledge 9

We promise to do our best to provide you with a safe and secure place to live

Responsible officer: Child Participation Development Worker

Timeline: September 2025

Link to other action plans or strategy initiatives: Not applicable

Expected outcome:

Regular monitoring and support for children living out of borough by informing children and young people of what participation offerings are upcoming.

Responsible officer: Child Participation Development Worker

Timeline: September 2025

Link to other action plans or strategy initiatives: Not applicable

Expected outcome:

Sufficient engagement with children and young people coming into care.

Responsible officer: Child Participation Development Worker

Timeline: September 2025

Link to other action plans or strategy initiatives: Care Leaver review - Mark Riddell

Expected outcome:

Strong support networks for children living out of borough.

Responsible officer: Child Participation Development Worker

Timeline: September 2025

Link to other action plans or strategy initiatives: Not applicable

Expected outcome:

Active engagement and participation in the annual Big Ballot from care-experienced individuals.

Pledge 10

We promise to do our best to commit to engaging with every child in our care, including those living out of borough

Responsible officer: Child Participation Development Worker

Timeline: September 2025

Link to other action plans or strategy initiatives: Not applicable

Expected outcome:

Regular monitoring and support for children living out of borough by informing children and young people of what participation offerings are upcoming.

Responsible officer: Child Participation Development Worker

Timeline: September 2025

Link to other action plans or strategy initiatives: Not applicable

Expected outcome:

Sufficient engagement with children and young people coming into care.

Responsible officer: Child Participation Development Worker

Timeline: September 2025

Link to other action plans or strategy initiatives: Care Leaver review - Mark Riddell

Expected outcome:

Strong support networks for children living out of borough.

Responsible officer: Child Participation Development Worker

Timeline: September 2025

Link to other action plans or strategy initiatives: Not applicable

Expected outcome:

Active engagement and participation in the annual Big Ballot from care-experienced individuals.

Responsible officer: Head of Service: Life Chances and Child Participation Development Worker

Timeline: September 2025

Link to other action plans or strategy initiatives: Care Leaver review - Mark Riddell

Expected outcome:

Care leavers have a voice in decision-making processes.

Corporate Parenting Strategy action plan 2025 to 2028 -

On this page

Pledge 1

We promise to do our best to support you in the same way as if you were our own child but acknowledge your individual circumstances

Actions

Pledge 2

We promise to do our best to listen to your wishes and work on finding the best solution

Actions

Pledge 3

We promise to do our best to consistently update you in a way that you prefer

Actions

Pledge 4

We promise to do our best to work with schools and colleges and educate your local community to reduce the possibility of being bullied

Actions

Pledge 5

We promise to do our best to work with you so you know how to be safe

Actions

Pledge 6

We promise to do our best to support you to get the education and training you need to help you develop your skills and achieve your goals in life

Actions

Pledge 7

We promise to do our best to offer opportunities for you to manage your physical and mental wellbeing

Actions

Pledge 8

We promise to do our best to encourage and empower you to feel confident in who you are, ensuring you have the resources and care needed to thrive as your authentic self

Actions

Pledge 9

We promise to do our best to provide you with a safe and secure place to live

Actions

Pledge 10

We promise to do our best to commit to engaging with every child in our care, including those living out of borough

Actions

Corporate Parenting Strategy action plan 2025 to 2028 -

On this page

Pledge 1

We promise to do our best to support you in the same way as if you were our own child but acknowledge your individual circumstances

Actions

Make sure that 100% of care plans have appropriate, documented input from key stakeholders including health and education.

Virtual School to offer attachment and trauma training to 100% of foster carers - training to be mandatory.

Provide quarterly corporate parenting training to wider council officers so they understand their role as a corporate parent and contribute to the council’s goals.

Offer 100% of Relevant and Former Relevant young people the opportunity for their pathway plans to be reviewed by Independent Reviewing Officers post-18.

Make sure 100% of pathway plans have documented input from housing, health and virtual school colleagues as well as adult social care oversight.

Collaborate with external campaign organisations that support enhancing outcomes for Care Experienced children and young people.

Pledge 2

We promise to do our best to listen to your wishes and work on finding the best solution

Actions

Make sure feedback mechanisms are available for those able to participate (8+ years) with a total of at least 50% engagement. Track feedback and implement at least 2 improvements per year.

Present care leaver updates in 100% of Corporate Parenting Advocacy Panel meetings.

Achieve a 70% usage rate of the Mind of My Own app among care-experienced individuals.

Establish at least 5 sub-groups within the Corporate Parenting Advocacy Panel, each focusing on specific areas to drive discussion with key decision-makers.

Pledge 3

We promise to do our best to consistently update you in a way that you prefer

Actions

Identify preferred communication channels for 100% of children within 1 week of intake and make sure these are recorded on Mosaic.

Provide appropriate specialist support to communicate with 100% of children with complex communication needs.

Make sure that 100% of CLA and care leavers are visited or contacted within statutory timescales.

Ensure that all care experienced children aged 17 and a half, know and understand their transition plan.

Pledge 4

We promise to do our best to work with schools and colleges and educate your local community to reduce the possibility of being bullied

Actions

Collaborate with 100% of schools to encourage them to implement and review anti-bullying policies, to ensure they include reference to tackling targeted bullying towards care experienced children.

Offer the ARC framework programme to 100% of schools and settings where there is a Bracknell Forest child looked after.

Through the means of leaflets, newsletters and digital communication, provide care-experienced individuals with a key contact they feel they can speak to if they are being bullied.

Pledge 5

We promise to do our best to work with you so you know how to be safe

Actions

Make sure children and young people in care understand online safety, healthy boundaries and risk reduction.

Make sure that online counselling services are accessible to 100% of age-appropriate children and young people and they know how to raise concerns through the Mind of My Own app.

Pledge 6

We promise to do our best to support you to get the education and training you need to help you develop your skills and achieve your goals in life

Actions

Make sure 100% of Education, Health and Care needs assessments of children looked after are completed within 20 weeks and updated, via the annual review process as appropriate, to accurately reflect the child’s social care needs.

Make sure that 100% of Education, Health and Care Plans of children looked after from year 9 onwards reflect preparation for adulthood with specific targets for employment, education and independence.

Make sure 100% of Personal Education Plans (PEP) are attended by virtual school where the child has an EHCP or is on SEND support.

Explore the opportunity to expand our career readiness mentoring offer (such as CV writing, interview practice) for 100% of care leavers post-18 years of age.

Facilitate a least 15 work experience/job placements per year with documented feedback from the service area and child after each experience.

Establish partnerships with local businesses and organisations to provide 5 placements, internships and apprenticeships for care leavers.

Increase the Education, Employment or Training rate among care leavers to 60% by providing bespoke plans for all Not in Education, Employment or Training care leavers.

All agency partners (including health, housing, virtual school, education and children’s social care) to update information on the Local Offer and review updates on a quarterly basis.

To offer additional ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) classes to Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children, providing the opportunity to develop conversational language and expanding their curriculum.

Pledge 7

We promise to do our best to offer opportunities for you to manage your physical and mental wellbeing

Actions

Offer health assessments for 100% of children in care.

Promote healthy lifestyle initiatives to 100% of children (for example gym memberships, example meal plans).

Make sure that 100% of care leavers are aware they are eligible to receive pre-paid prescriptions.

Implement health screening for 100% of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, reviewed annually.

Explore the mental health offer to support all care leavers.

Pledge 8

We promise to do our best to encourage and empower you to feel confident in who you are, ensuring you have the resources and care needed to thrive as your authentic self

Actions

Carry out a survey and collate data on the hobbies and interests of children looked after and care leavers to inform the offering of future participation events.

Provide access to life journey work for 100% of care-experienced individuals, reviewed annually.

Progress approval of adopting care leavers as a protected characteristic.

Pledge 9

We promise to do our best to provide you with a safe and secure place to live

Actions

Conduct quarterly check-ins (either via message or in-person) for 100% of age-appropriate children living out of borough with documented feedback.

Visit with the social worker 100% of age-appropriate newly looked after children within 3 months to explain our offer of participation forums and activities.

Make contact with 100% of out of borough participation officers to support children living out of borough through local networks.

Engage with 100% of age-appropriate eligible care experienced individuals annually, in participation offers. Ensure there is documentation and record to track individual engagement.

Pledge 10

We promise to do our best to commit to engaging with every child in our care, including those living out of borough

Actions

Conduct quarterly check-ins (either via message or in-person) for 100% of age-appropriate children living out of borough with documented feedback.

Visit with the social worker 100% of age-appropriate newly looked after children within 3 months to explain our offer of participation forums and activities.

Make contact with 100% of out of borough participation officers to support children living out of borough through local networks.

Engage with 100% of age-appropriate eligible care experienced individuals annually, in participation offers. Ensure there is documentation and record to track individual engagement.

Identify at least 2 care leaver champions to actively participate in board meetings and forums.