Looking after our looked-after children – Taking a corporate approach is a major event taking place at the Marine Hotel, North Berwick on 6 May 2008.

Adam Ingram MSP, Minister for Children and Early Years, will be our keynote speaker and the day will enable us to focus on the role that we all have to play in this area. There will be inputs from young people and insights into examples of good practice in East Lothian and other local authority areas, which the Council and its partners can build on. I have attached a detailed programme for you.

The importance of this event can be demonstrated by this quote from Adam Ingram, made last October.

"We all have a responsibility to children in care. Children who are looked after are counting on us to protect their welfare and offer them support, as a parent should. We all know that, just as with our own children, providing a roof over their heads, a good education and food on the table is not enough. All children need to know someone is fighting their corner, listening to their needs and doing what they can to support them.

Authorities and agencies can never fully replace a parent, but they can turn around the experiences of children from challenging backgrounds by asking 'What would I want for my own child?'"

When a child is taken into care, the Council corporately takes on the parental responsibility of supporting that child to fulfil its potential. This event is geared to help us to explore how we can do this.  Get in touch with Jane Ogden-Smith know as soon as possible if you would like to attend.  Phone 01620 82 (7199) or emailing her at jogden-smith@eastlothian.gov.uk now.