Knowsley Council is the corporate parent to over 500 cared for and care experienced children and young people.
As a corporate parent for children and young people in the Council’s care, it’s important that they are provided with support, advice and guidance and are listened to like any other child.
Being a corporate parent is the collective responsibility of Council – it’s employees and its partner agencies – who work together to provide the best possible care, safety and support for children in their care. Being a corporate parent ensures that those in care or leaving care thrive, are safe and have high aspirations.
Mark Mirfin, the Council’s newly appointed Executive Director for Children’s Services, recently met with some of the Council’s cared for and care experienced children and young people to hear first-hand what they think is working well and where they think improvements could be made.
Recruiting new staff and ensuring they understand their role as a corporate parent was an area highlighted and it was agreed that the Council’s commitment as a corporate parent would be included in future job descriptions, job packs and recruitment advertising.
The children and young people were instrumental in ensuring that the job description message was co-produced and aligned to their needs, which is:-
As part of your role with the Council, you share a collective responsibility to support and champion children and young people who are cared for by the Council and young people who are care experienced.
Children and young people tell us that including this in all job descriptions “is good” because they want all Council employees to understand how important it is to “treat children in care and care experienced young people as they would their own”.
We ask that you do this with the same commitment, care and ambition that any parent would, regardless of your job role or service area.
Children and young people tell us that they want all Council employees to be “genuine”, helping to create a supportive environment, remaining alert to any worries and concerns, and ensuring that safeguarding is promoted and responded to appropriately.