Working Together to Safeguard Children (2026) and the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act (2026) reinforce the importance of corporate parenting across the local system. All decisions made under this protocol must reflect corporate parenting principles, ensuring children are kept safe, instability is minimised, and planning promotes long-term wellbeing, education and successful transition to adulthood. These responsibilities apply before, during and regardless of Looked After status and should inform decisions about accommodation, support and multi-agency working.
Corporate parenting is a shared responsibility across Staffordshire County Council, elected members and partner agencies, who must act in the same way a good parent would, having regard to key principles including:
- Acting in the best interests of children and promoting their physical and mental health and wellbeing.
- Ensuring children and young people are supported to express, and have due regard given to, their views, wishes and feelings.
- Supporting access to and effective use of services.
- Promoting high aspirations and securing the best possible outcomes.
- Ensuring safety and stability in home life, relationships, education and employment.
- Preparing young people for adulthood and independent living.
The Corporate Parenting principles, above, are underpinned by one key question which runs through the core of this document: Would this be good enough for my child?
All young people should be:
- The shared responsibility of their Corporate Parents, with reference to the seven principles.
- Given as much information, control, and choice as possible and in a timely manner prior to leaving care.
- Listened to and their feelings and wishes be considered.
- Able to make mistakes, learn from them, and be given a second chance, and perhaps more.
- Given flexible and personalised support to meet their needs.
