“Corporate parents are the grownups who have got our backs”
A new plan, approved by the Children Young People and Education Committee on 26 November 2025, sets out a vision for how Wirral children in care and care leavers will be supported over the next three years.
The Wirral Corporate Parenting Plan outlines how the council and partners will fulfil responsibilities to care-experienced young people and care leavers as ‘corporate parents’. The plan shares the commitments, priorities and actions that will aim to improve the lives, and outcomes, for these young people.
Cllr Stephen Bennett, Chair of Wirral’s Children, Young People and Education Committee, said:
When a child goes into care, their local authority becomes their ‘Corporate Parent’. This means the council must help them to grow up well and be happy, just like a parent should.
In Wirral, we want all children and young people to live safely and happily, regardless of their personal circumstances.
Nationally, outcomes for children and young people that are in or have left care, remain stubbornly worse than for other children. They tend not to do as well at school, are less likely to go on to higher education, more likely to be not in education, employment or training (NEET) and are over-represented in youth offending institutions.
The plan is made up of four key pillars: my health and wellbeing, my friends, family and home, my learning and skills, and my future. It includes actions to improve emotional wellbeing, access to education and employment and ensure safe, stable homes - while also reducing stigma.
Cllr Bennett said:
As corporate parents in Wirral, we want to change the so-called status quo. It’s our intention that children who need to come into care are better off because of it.
This plan sets out our brave new vision for improving the lives of our care-experienced children and young people over the next three years.
The plan has been coproduced between the council and partners and care-experienced young people themselves. Through commissioned services, virtual schools and Wirral’s care leavers council, young people have shared their insights and experiences at a number of workshops. This invaluable input has helped to shape the plan.
Amy, a care-experienced child from Wirral, said:
Corporate parents are the grownups who have got our backs. They’re like life cheerleaders, helping us stay on track. But plans should be made with us, not for us.
Hear what Corporate Parenting means to Wirral's care leavers and children in care:
