The Somerset Corporate Parenting Board has unveiled its new strategy, co-written with children in care and care leavers. This strategy outlines Somerset Council’s guidelines and aims to ensure that children and young people in care are nurtured to grow and thrive.
The 2025-28 Somerset Corporate Parenting Strategy asks, ‘Would This Be Good Enough for My Child?’. When a child enters the care of Somerset Council, the responsibilities that would normally belong to a parent become the legal and moral duty of everyone at the Council and its partners, making them Corporate Parents.
The Strategy is built around seven key responsibilities:
- Ensuring health
- Giving young people a voice
- Assessing their needs
- Taking a trauma-informed approach
- Having high aspirations for them
- Being rights-based
- Providing stability and security
These responsibilities guide the Council’s actions for children and young people in care over the next few years. The Corporate Parenting Board monitors, challenges, and influences the services Somerset Council and its partners deliver to continually improve outcomes.
Working with members of the Somerset in Care and Somerset Leaving Care Council (SiCC and SLCC), a Pledge was developed, symbolised by a sunflower to reflect happiness, admiration, optimism, honesty, and resilience.
A member of SiCC and SLCC said:
“The Pledge is like a sunflower as it’s striving for brightness, always looking for the sun and finding the light.”
In addition to the new Strategy and Pledge, a short film was produced by SiCC, SLCC, and the Somerset Council Engagement and Participation team. This film will be used for Corporate Parent training for all new staff and Councillors.
Cllr. Heather Shearer, Lead Member for Children, Families and Education, said:
“I’m delighted to support the launch of the new Corporate Parenting Strategy for Somerset that runs until 2028. This strategy, co-produced by the Corporate Parenting Board and young people of SiCC and SLCC, reflects the principles of the national ‘Stable Homes, Built on Love’ strategy, promoting the health, well-being, hopes, and wishes of all care-experienced children and young people.
“The Board encourages everyone at Somerset Council and our partners to undertake the refreshed Corporate Parenting training to ensure we all answer the question – ‘Would This Be Good Enough for My Child?’”
SiCC and SLCC is a group for young people in care and care leavers in Somerset, enabling them to have a voice to challenge and shape the services they use. Visit the SiCC and SLCC website for more information about the group and the changes they have made.
The 2025-28 Somerset Corporate Parenting Strategy, Pledge, and training film can be found here, along with other useful documents.
You can contact the team by email: SomersetCorporateParentingBoard@somerset.gov.uk
