Peers seek to strengthen corporate parenting support for care-experienced people

Peers have launched a bid to ensure that a proposed extension of corporate parenting responsibilities in England is more than just “lip service”.

They have tabled an amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill which introduces an extension of corporate parenting beyond local authorities.

The House of Lords amendment to the bill, currently progressing through the UK parliament, beefs up ‘Clause 21’ of an amendment already added in the wake of lobbying by campaigners.

The original clause places a duty on public bodies to be “alert” to policies and practices that may “adversely affect” the wellbeing of looked-after children.

The new amendment, tabled by Lord Bishop of Manchester David Walker, adds that such bodies should have “due regard” to removing or minimising disadvantages faced by looked-after children.

It also requires public bodies to take steps to act to ensure their policies have no adverse impact on such children.

Another amendment tabled by Lord Bishop Walker would require public bodies to undertake an impact assessment of their policies (Clause 25).

It also calls on the secretary of state to publish a ‘National Care Offer’ within 18 months of the bill becoming an act.

This would set out the minimum standards of information that local authorities must publish on the local offer for care leavers.

The amendment follows intense campaigning highlighting how care-experienced people experience some of the worst outcomes in society. 

It also comes in the wake of Prime Minister Keir Starmer's pledge to "do more to support children in care and care leavers”.

Terry Galloway, a key campaigner who helped get the amendment tabled in the Lords, said: “We need actions, not words to support care-experienced people who are among the most disadvantaged group in almost every metric.

“They are 70 per cent more likely to die prematurely. They are more likely to be homeless, incarcerated and suffer loneliness and poor mental and emotional health.

“It’s a shameful blot on society. If Keir Starmer is serious about improving the life chances of care-experienced people, his government needs to do more than give it lip service.

“These amendments strengthen the corporate parenting responsibilities being proposed in the bill in a way that will actually make a difference to people’s lives.”