What is a Corporate Parent?
A corporate parent is the name given to an organisation or person who has special responsibilities to children and young people with care experience.
This may include:
- those in residential care, including residential schools or secure care,
- those in foster care,
- those in kinship care, who live with a family member other than a parent, and
- those who are looked after at home,
- those with previous experience of any of these types of care.
In simple terms, a corporate parent is intended to carry out many of the roles a loving parent should. While they may not be able to provide everything a parent can, they should still be able to provide the children and young people they're responsible for with the best possible support and care
Corporate parents should be aware of issues that could negatively impact an individual or the wider community. This could include changes to placement, residence, or services.
The local authority
assumes the role of corporate parent for all children in care therefore it is the collective responsibility for all those employed by the local authority to provide the best possible care and safeguarding for all children in care.
When a child comes into care, the council becomes the Corporate Parent. Put simply, the term 'Corporate Parent' means the collective responsibility of the council, elected members, employees, and partner agencies, for providing the best possible care and safeguarding for the children who are looked after by us.
A child in the care of the council looks to the council to be the best parent it can be to that child. Every member and employee of the council has the statutory responsibility to act for that child in the same way that a good parent would act for their own child.
Every good parent wants the best for their child, to see their child flourish with good health, to be safe and happy, to do well at school and enjoy good relationships with their peers. To make the most of leisure opportunities, hobbies and interests, and to grow towards adulthood equipped to lead independent lives and make their way as adults in higher education, in good careers and jobs, and to be financially secure.
Share this page
