Welsh Government commits to corporate parenting charter

The Welsh Government has committed to a new Corporate Parenting Charter with nine promises to looked-after children.

The Charter sets out principles that all public bodies and their leaders should follow in the design and delivery of services, such as eradicating stigma, providing a stable home and good health and education.

‘Corporate parenting’ is defined as promoting the collective responsibility of the whole public sector to safeguard and promote the rights and life chances of care-experienced children and young people.

Any public body, third sector organisation or business can sign up to the Charter.

Mark Drakeford (pictured) said the Programme for Government sets out its “ambitious vision for transforming children’s services in Wales.”

“I’m pleased to sign the Charter today, which will support all our public bodies in ensuring that all care-experienced children and young people have the same life chances as every other child or young person.”

Julie Morgan (also pictured), the Deputy Minister for Social Services, who also signed the Charter, said the inspiration for the charter came from an event held between the government and care-experienced people.

“Last December we held Wales’s first Care Experienced Summit, bringing care-experienced young people and Welsh Ministers together to develop a radical, ambitious and shared vision for the future.

“A key message from the Summit, led by the Young Ambassadors, was that care-experienced children and young people’s rights must be respected and their voices heard and listened to equally.

“I call on all public bodies, voluntary organisations and businesses in Wales to join us to ensure that all care-experienced children and young people have the same opportunities and life chances that every young person deserves.”

Dr Andrew Goodall, the Welsh Government’s Permanent Secretary, said the duty to support children should spread across all public services.

“Supporting care-experienced children should be the responsibility of all public bodies. We want our public sector to understand and develop their responsibilities towards care-experienced children and young people throughout Wales.

“I welcome the launch of the Corporate Parenting Charter and I’d encourage public bodies across Wales to sign up to the Charter from today.”