01 September 2026
By Claire Winter, Executive Director, Families and Education at Somerset Council
When a child comes into the care of Somerset Council, we all become their corporate parent. That responsibility does not sit solely with social workers, foster carers or Children’s Services. It belongs to every elected member, every Director, manager and employee across the Council wherever we work.
Corporate parenting means caring about the lives, experiences and futures of children in care and care experienced young people in the same way a good parent would for their own children. It means considering how the work we do and the decisions we make in our roles, could improve the lives of children in our care and our care experienced young people.
The law sets out seven corporate parenting principles that require councils to act in the best interests of children in care and care leavers, listen to their views, help them access services, promote high aspirations, ensure stability and safety, and prepare them for adulthood and independence.
For many colleagues, this can feel removed from their day-to-day role. In reality, the opposite is true. Whatever our job, we have opportunities to make a difference.
If we work in customer services, think about how easy it is for a care leaver to access support. If we design digital services, consider whether they are accessible and straightforward to navigate. If we work in procurement or commissioning, we must think about how social value in contracts can create opportunities for care experienced young people. If we work in housing, transport, finance, HR, communications, planning or highways, ask how our decisions could improve life chances, remove barriers or create opportunities.
Corporate parenting is often about the small things. A young person receiving a prompt response, being treated with dignity and respect, being given clear information, being offered an apprenticeship, or having someone really listen and take their concerns seriously can have a lasting impact. It can be hard for children and young people to have to explain that they don’t live with their family. These moments help children and young people build trust and confidence in the adults around them, that may be very different to their previous experiences.
It is also about our ambition as a Council. Good parents want their children to thrive, not simply get by. As a Council, we should be ambitious for our children and young people, doing all the little things that help them to achieve in education, have fun, be loved, find meaningful work, enjoy good health and build fulfilling lives.
Corporate parenting is not an additional responsibility alongside our day jobs. It is a lens through which we should view our work every day. By considering the needs of children in care and care experienced young people in the decisions we make, we can help create a fairer, better future and ensure that every young person in our care or who has experienced care knows that their happiness and achievement in life matters to us all.
Find out more about Somerset’s Corporate Parenting Pledge.