A report released by the Council's Corporate Parenting Advisory Committee highlights Cardiff's strong commitment to providing high-quality care and support for the city's looked-after children and care leavers.

The Committee works in partnership with a range of sectors including Social Services, Health, Education, and other statutory agencies, to promote shared responsibility for the wellbeing of looked-after children. Together, they aim to protect these young people's interests and create the best possible opportunities for their success in life.

The 2024/2025 Annual Report highlights the range of initiatives undertaken by the Corporate Parenting Advisory Committee over the past year and notes a number of key activities and improvements:

• Emotional Health and Wellbeing:Services provided by the Cardiff & Vale Health Board, including holistic health assessments, developmental trauma services, and mental health support.
• Better Connections and Improved Relationships:Targeted support programs like the Cardiff Commitment, which collaborates with various services to support children in education, employment, or training.
• A Comfortable, Safe, and Stable Home:Initiatives like the Young Persons Gateway and Tai Ffres, providing housing and support for young people.

• Educational Achievement, Employment, and Training:Programs like the Children Looked After Virtual School and Bright Futures, offering education and employment opportunities.
• Celebrating Our Children and Young People:Events like the Bright Sparks Awards, recognising the achievements of care-experienced young people.

Cardiff Council's Cabinet will be recommended to approve the annual report alongside the Corporate Parenting Strategy 2025-2028. Thethree-year strategy sets out what needs to be done as corporate parents to support looked after children and care leavers to enable them to thrive and improve outcomes. It outlines a set of principles that underpin this work and five key priorities that have been formed based on the views and experiences of Looked after Children:

• Improving Emotional Health and Wellbeing:Promoting skills development, confidence, and personal growth.
• Better Connections and Improved Relationships:Ensuring children in care are safe and supported.
• A Comfortable, Safe, and Stable Home:Providing safe, stable, and comfortable homes.
• Educational Achievement, Employment, and Training:Ensuring access to quality education and support.
• Involving and Celebrating Our Children and Young People:Celebrating the strengths and achievements of care-experienced children.
• Implementation.

Councillor Sarah Merry, Deputy Leader and Chair of Corporate Parent Advisory Committee said:"We believe that every child should be given the best start in life and should have every opportunity to develop, thrive and reach their potential. Our Children Looked After are some of the most vulnerable in society and it is fundamental that they are at the centre of our work and that they have all the support that they need. This means listening, learning and challenging ourselves to be the best Corporate Parents we can be.

"It is crucial that as Corporate Parent we work collaboratively with a range of partners to ensure that our children looked after, and care leavers are supported in order for them to be safe and happy and the strategy outlines our commitments, challenges and the key steps we shall take to ensure that our children have the best possible outcomes in life.

"Public services, the voluntary sector and the wider community all have their part to play in shaping the lives of our children and young people. By working together, we can support our children and those leaving care to take advantage of the range of opportunities our great city can offer, to help them to reach their full potential."

The plan outlines specific actions, targets, and success indicators to ensure progress is made in each priority area, emphasising collaboration, support, and celebration of achievements. It emphasises the importance of strong foundations to ensure effective delivery of Corporate Parenting.

Key actions include, developing a data dashboard for key performance indicators, delivering training to staff, implementing self-assessments and audit activities, developing an operational delivery group, creating an annual communications plan, utilising technological solutions for accessible information, and ensuring the impact of the plan and priorities is captured and shared through quarterly and annual reports.

Cllr Ash Lister, Cabinet Member for Childrens Social Services added: "The Corporate Parenting Strategy 2025-2028 emphasises the importance of providing the best start in life for every child focuses on supporting children looked after and care leavers.

"Collaboration with a range of partners is crucial to ensure these children are safe and happy and the strategy outlines commitments, challenges, and key steps to achieve the best possible outcomes for children, with public services, the voluntary sector, and the wider community playing a role in shaping their lives.

"The Annual plan captures the activity that a range of service areas can lead on, most of this activity will be focused on our traditional children and young person, safeguarding and community related service areas. It highlights the contributions the whole council can make, to support our children. Strengthening the partnership network is crucial to ensure statutory and non-statutory partners work together to deliver strategic priorities."

Cardiff Council's Cabinet will meet on Thursday 15^thMay to consider the recommendations contained in the report, and a webcast of that meeting will be available to watch on the day hereAgenda for Cabinet on Thursday, 15th May, 2025, 2.00 pm : Cardiff Council

Prior to the Cabinet meeting, the report with be scrutinised by the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee when it meets on Tuesday 6^thMay. A recording of that meeting will be available to view hereAgenda for Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee on Tuesday, 6th May, 2025, 4.30 pm : Cardiff Council