Terms of Reference
The Corporate Parenting Board (the Board) will assist Dorset
Council and its partners to understand and fully comply with legal duties and
responsibilities across all services, as they discharge those duties to looked
after children and care leavers. This will continue as a key responsibility of
Dorset Council from 1st April 2019.
The Corporate Parenting Board will promote member and
workforce engagement, commitment and understanding of the Corporate Parenting
principles introduced by the Children and Social Work Act 2017. Ensuring the
local authority is ‘an active, strong and committed corporate parent – in line
with the corporate parenting principles’.
The Corporate Parenting Board will hold to account the council
and its partners for their role in the delivery of services and statutory
responsibilities to looked after children and care leavers as recommended in
statutory Corporate Parenting guidance.
The Board will have access to good qualitative and quantitative
management information from the council and its partners, in order to monitor
performance effectively against outcomes and track delivery of promises and
commitments as stated to the Children in Care Council.
The Board will ensure young people know how their voice,
insights and lived experiences have impacted decision making and service
development and delivery.
Board Management
The Corporate Parenting Board will meet a minimum of seven
times a year. Corporate Parenting Board
meetings will be attended by members of the Children in Care Council and their
representatives, with support from the Children’s Participation Service.
The Board will have regular membership from:
(i)
Seven elected members of the Council on a politically
proportionate basis.
(ii)
Children in Care Council (CiCC) representatives.
(iii)
Although not a full member of the board. The Lead Member for
Children’s services (s) is invited to attend all meetings.
The Board will have regular representation from the
Children’s Services Directorate in the form of:
(i)
The Executive Director, People (children’s) (or the officer for
the time-being with such responsibilities)
(ii)
The Head of Care and Protection (or the officer for the time-being
with such responsibilities)
(iii)
The Lead Officer for Looked After Children
(iv) The Corporate Parenting
Officer
The Board will request regular representation from:
(i)
Relevant Partners
(ii)
The Virtual School Head
(iii)
Children’s Rights, Advocacy and Participation Services
(iv)
Children’s Health and Mental Health Service
(v)
The Police and Youth Offending Service
(vi)
Foster Carers representative (or other parent forum)
Also in
non-regular attendance – sufficiently senior representatives from Children’s
Services Directorate and other directorates and agencies to attend for specific
issues in order to offer advice and assistance as requested by the Board.