Community Parenting Strategy for Looked after Children and Care Leavers

Our commitment is to our city being a place where all care experienced children and young people belong and can build a successful future.

The Community Parenting Strategy for Looked after Children and Care Leavers 2023 to 2026 sets out the city’s priorities for care experienced children and young people across Sheffield.

This strategy has been co-produced with care experienced children and young people. It builds on our vision for children and young people as set out in Sheffield City Goals and the Council Plan 2024 to 2028. They commit us to be great Community Parents.

The strategy will be delivered with support from key partners, voluntary and community organisations and businesses in the city.

For more information please refer to the strategy document.

Strategic priorities

There are 5 strategic priorities. An annual business plan will be co-produced with our young people for their delivery.

1. Relationships - the people in the young person's life.
2. High Aspirations and Resilience – parity of opportunity growing up.
3. Rights - entitlements, voice and participation.
4. Wellbeing and Recovery - being and feeling healthy and happy.
5. Caring for those who care: children and young people are nurtured by carers and workers who are well-resourced, valued and supported.

Corporate Parenting

Corporate Parenting is the term used in law to describe our collective responsibility to care for, love and champion our children in care and our care leavers. Our duty is to ensure they have every opportunity to reach their full potential as they grow up in our family.

We are committed to taking a citywide approach to improving outcomes for our children in care and our care leavers. So, in this strategy we refer to Corporate Parenting as Community Parenting.

Collective approach to care for young people

We are proud to have long-standing support from our key partners, voluntary and community organisations and businesses.

Together we have embraced the responsibility to act as extended community family to care experienced young people. This collective approach is important. It allows us to be the best Community Parents we can be.

Alignment with the Council Plan and City Goals

This strategy is part of a range of activity that supports our shared aim to improve provision for our care experienced children and young people.

The Community Strategy aligns with the Council Plan 2024 to 2028 and City Goals. This creates shared understanding about our priorities and a whole-city approach to Community Parenting. This applies particularly to Outcome 1,  A place where all children belong, and all young people can build a successful future.

The Community Parenting Strategy also works alongside the Placement Sufficiency Strategy for Looked After Children and Care Leavers 2023 to 2025.