At the full Council meeting today, Cllr Sean Donnelly, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People proposed a Notice of Motion relating to the Council’s role as corporate parents to cared for children and young people and care experienced people, ensuring they receive the same level of love, care, support and advocacy as other children and young people.
The Notice of Motion was unanimously supported by Members to establish an Elected Member Corporate Parenting Pledge whereby all Knowsley Council Elected Members will collectively act as good Corporate Parents and will:-
- Champion the best interests of children and young people who are cared for or care experienced, treating them with the same commitment, care and ambition that any responsible parent would expect for their own child;
- Use the Elected Members’ leadership, scrutiny, and decision-making roles to promote a genuine, supportive culture where the needs and experiences of cared for children and young people and care experienced people are understood and prioritised across all Council services;
- Listen to, value and respond to the voices and lived experiences of children and young people, ensuring these perspectives inform policies, priorities and decisions;
- Promote safety, stability, wellbeing, and a genuine sense of belonging, and ensure that safeguarding is recognised as everyone’s responsibility and appropriately championed at all levels;
- Challenge stigma, inequality, and disadvantage, and support fair access to opportunities, services, and outcomes for cared for and care experienced children; and,
- Work collaboratively across political groups, and with officers and partners, to continually strengthen our role and effectiveness as Corporate Parents.
Cllr Sean Donnelly said: “Many of our cared for children and young people and care experienced people don’t have the same support networks as their friends so it’s really important that we step in to ensure they have access to the same support and opportunities as others.
“I’m delighted that all of my colleagues pledged their support tonight to ensure we all actively work together for the benefit of our children and young people, helping them to develop and thrive.”