Social Workers in the Corporate Parenting Team’s work with children and young people up to their 18th birthday who become looked after when their birth parents are unable to provide appropriate ongoing care in either a temporary or permanent capacity.
Whilst some children will be looked after as a result of a parent consenting for the Local Authority to provide accommodation for their child, usually on a short term basis to assist a family crisis, for many of our children the court will have made the decision that the child can no longer live with their own family and that they will be looked after on a long term basis.
Most of our children live with Foster Carers and Kinship carers however a small number also live in children’s homes or with their parents. Some of our older young people may also live in supported accommodation. The role of a Corporate Parenting Social worker involves working closely with the child and relevant others including parents, carers and health and education professionals, to make sure that a child or young person has a clear care plan that is informed by the voice of the child and as a result the child receives appropriate support and services including care, education and health. Social Workers within this service area enjoy the opportunity of building strong long term relationships with children and young people through direct work and enabling children to understand their past, manage the present and build a future as a happy and healthy adult.
The Corporate Parenting Service is currently located in central Walsall. We work closely with Transition and Leaving Care Team to ensure that young people have the best journey through to adulthood that they can. There are 4 Corporate Parenting teams, each have a Team Manager, Senior Practitioner and between 6/7 social workers. There is a strong emphasis on supporting our social workers in their day to day practice, in their career and continuous professional development.
