Clackmannanshire Council Online

Plan Agreed to Care for Looked After Children and Care Leavers

A plan which details how looked after children and care leavers in Clackmannanshire will be cared for has been approved by the Council today (20 December).

The plan has been compiled with the active participation of care experienced young people, who have contributed honest views about what has worked for them and what needs to be better.  The young people from Oor Clacks Voices, a local care experienced participation group, shared their experiences at a special event in August where they were joined by senior leaders from the Council and local organisations who affirmed their commitments to being good corporate parents.  At the event, Clackmannanshire became the first Council in Scotland to guarantee a tenancy to young people leaving care.

Corporate Parenting equates in many ways to being a birth parent. Key organisations are responsible for making sure that looked after children and young people and care leavers aged up to 26 years receive the support that they need.  The newly approved plan contains an action plan to be delivered for the young people, details of the organisations responsible for delivering them along with information on how success will be measured.  Key outcomes to be delivered are:

• Looked after children, young people and their families have an understanding of their rights and participate in decisions which affect them. Corporate Parents meet their responsibilities and listen and respond to the voices of children and families and carers

• Looked after children and young people have equality of opportunity and improved educational outcomes.  More looked after young people access and maintain positive post-school destinations

• All transitions from birth to young adulthood will be well planned. Looked after children and young people will be safe and secure and will experience as few moves as possible

• Looked after children and young people are supported to improve their physical, emotional and mental health and wellbeing. Health outcomes for looked after children will improve

• More looked after young people access and sustain accommodation that meets their needs when they move on from being looked after More looked after young people choose continuing care as an option

Spokesperson for Health & Social Services Cllr Les Sharp said: “I’d like to thank the care experienced young people who have given their honest views and assistance to help make this plan relevant to their needs and hopes for the future. The publication of this plan is an important step in our journey to making sure that every corporate parent in Clackmannanshire is working closely together with one aim – to care for our looked after children and care leavers in the same way as other parents do.  We are proud of our young people and want to do all that we can to help them grow up to be successful, confident and responsible citizens, and this plan gives detailed and measurable actions for the next three years to help make this happen.”