Who's looking after me?
What is a corporate parent?
The term 'corporate parent' is used to describe the agencies and organisations responsible for taking care of looked after children and young people. But not everyone has heard of it or knows what it means.
‘Corporate parenting means that everyone has a responsibility for me. Those involved in being a corporate parent should not treat me any different from their own child.’
Anonymous
‘I have never heard of the term…I do not know what it means.’
Guy
'Not sure [what this means]. However, I guess it means that foster care workers and social workers act like parents to young people in care.’
'I expect a corporate parent to be someone you can feel comfortable talking to:
A person who understands you and is willing to help you with different problems that you may be having. Carers should spend time getting to know young people and helping them in terms of giving them advice and guidance.’
Sam
'It sounds very artificial…and detached, especially the word corporate.’
Ryan
‘I have never heard of them.’
Daniel
Better communication
Improved communication between social workers and carers in areas such as information sharing will go some way to alleviating problems; carers and social workers will have a better knowledge and understanding of a young person’s past and of their aspirations and needs for the future.
‘There needs to be communication.’
Anonymous
'It is a communication thing…it is not the fact that they (social workers, residential carers, etc) have more work to do…it is that they don’t seem to care.’
James
‘Communication [is vital] between everyone involved, that’s parents, teachers, guardians, social workers all need to be involved…so that if any problems arise, everybody knows what they are.’
Anonymous
‘It is important for the heads of care to know the views of young people in care: that way they will be able to make decisions and plan ahead - knowing what young people in care want.’
Sam
‘Young people should definitely be involved because it is the young person’s life and you don’t expect people to make decisions for other people…you should be asked no matter what age you are.’
Hayley
‘I would have appreciated being included in the process.’
Anonymous