Community planning partnerships
It is essential that the individuals and agencies who form the corporate parent for Scotland’s looked after children and young people are more aware of and alert to their children’s needs and work together to deliver for them.
'Everyone is responsible for me. Provide me with the information that I ask for and listen to me a bit more. But my experience in care has allowed me to meet a lot of people who do care.'
Nicole
Councils cannot work in isolation to improve outcomes for looked after children and young people and care leavers; the corporate parenting responsibility must be shared across the whole community planning partnership as the wider corporate family. The corporate family comprises those agencies and individuals who have a responsibility to provide services to looked after children and young people and care leavers. Health services, independent providers, the police, the children’s hearings and criminal justice systems, and further and higher education providers all play an essential part.
Community planning partnerships will be the vehicle through which the corporate family ethos is promoted and nurtured. In this context, the best interests of looked after children and young people and care leavers should be an ever-present priority. Improving wellbeing, learning, inclusion, safety and opportunities within communities are high level priorities and this is especially true for looked after children and young people, and care leavers.
You will want to:
- be confident that there is a joint focus of activity, ensuring that looked after children and young people and care leavers are safe, healthy, active, nurtured, achieving, respected and responsible, and included.
- be aspirational for looked after children and young people and care leavers, holding the same expectations good parents would have for their own children.
Downloadable resources
Read the full version of this section of the Corporate Parenting Guidance on the Scottish Government website.
Personal stories
Councillor Isabel Hutton
Elected member and CoSLA spoksperson Isabel Hutton emphasizes the responsibilties of all partnership organisations.