Looked after children and young people

What is Corporate Parenting?

A corporate parent is an organisation or individual who has special responsibilities for looked after children and care-experienced young people. Corporate parenting responsibilities’ extend to all looked after children, aged from birth to when they cease to be looked after. This includes children and young people:

• in residential care
• in foster care
• in kinship care
• in secure care
• who are looked after at home with social work involvement
• care leavers who were looked after on their 16th birthday (or subsequently)

The responsibilities continue to apply until the care leaver reaches their 26th birthday. Corporate parents have many of the same roles as parents do.

Corporate parents should do as much as they can to make sure children and young people feel in control of their lives and able to overcome the barriers they face. The Champions Board want all corporate parents to invest in relationships with care experienced young people and ensure that all care experienced children and young people have the same access and opportunities as other children and young people

East Lothian Corporate Parenting Plan

The East Lothian Corporate Parenting Plan 2024-2027 plan has been developed in partnership key strategic partners and with the East Lothian Champions Board. The East Lothian Champions Board is a group of care experienced young people that come together to speak up about their experiences of care and what improvements need to be made to make the care system better for everyone.

To find out more about our role, download our Corporate Parenting Plan 2024-2027.

You can also read our Easy Read version of the Plan, produced with the East Lothian Champions Board

Find out more about the East Lothian Champions Board.

This plan is ambitious, as we wish to #keepthepromise - Scotland's national commitment to making sure that children and young people grow up 'loved, safe and respected'. We have committed to this and, as corporate parents, we recognise how important it is and embrace the challenge. We want to work hand in hand with our children, young people and families – their voice and participation is vital, and has shaped this plan and priorities. Their voice will continue to set that agenda going forward. The East Lothian Corporate Parenting Plan will be reviewed regularly to ensure it is aligned with ‘The Promise Change Plan 2021-2024’.

Finally, why not download our top tips for corporate parents?