Corporate Parenting

Our corporate parenting pledge

Right now, we're working on a new plan called the Corporate Parenting Strategy. This plan will help us make sure we are doing everything we can to support you. We have created a pledge that will be our guide until the plan is ready.

As part of developing our Corporate Parenting Strategy, we undertook a consultation to gather your feedback. Your ideas and voices are really important to us, and we have used the feedback you provided to help formulate this year's pledge. We are always here to listen to your feedback and make changes that will help us better support you.

Once the new plan is approved, we'll work together with you to create a new pledge. Your ideas and voices are really important to us, and we want to make sure our promises reflect what you need and want.

Torbay Pledge to Cared For and Care Experienced Children and Young People (2025 Edition)

We, as your corporate parents, pledge to support, empower, and respect you. This pledge is built on your voices, your experiences, and your aspirations. It reflects our commitment to listen, act, and stand beside you—always.

1. Respect and Empowerment

• We will treat you as individuals, not labels.
• We will listen to you, involve you in decisions, and explain things clearly.
• We will respect your privacy and ensure you are not singled out or bullied.

2. Health and Wellbeing

• We will support your physical and mental health through regular check-ups and access to services.
• We will help you develop a Personal Health Plan tailored to your needs and choices.
• We will celebrate your achievements and support your resilience and self-worth.

3. Education and Learning

• We will help you stay in your preferred school or college and explain any changes.
• We will develop a Personal Education Plan to help you succeed.
• We will support your learning journey with encouragement and understanding.

4. Relationships and Identity

• - We will support your relationships with family, friends, and siblings.
• - We will plan visits and family time around your preferences.
• - We will help you build a strong sense of identity and belonging.

5. Independence and Future Opportunities

• We will guide you as you grow, offering support when needed and space when wanted.
• We will help you develop life skills and access opportunities in education, employment, and training
• until at least age 21.
• We will celebrate your talents and support your goals.

6. Participation and Voice

• We will ensure your voice is heard in all decisions that affect you.
• We will work with you individually or through groups like the Children in Care Council, SEND Youth Forum and the Young Persons Panel
• We will review this pledge annually to ensure it reflects your evolving needs and priorities.

Developed With You

This pledge was shaped through consultation with cared for children and care experienced adults in Torbay. It reflects real experiences and is aligned with restorative practice values and inclusive language.

What is a Corporate Parent 

When a child or young person becomes cared for, we become the corporate parent. This means there is a collective responsibility. This includes Council elected members (councillors), officers, and partner agencies. We must make sure we safeguard the children and young people we are looking after. We need to make sure that they get the best possible care. 

We have a corporate parenting vision with objectives and priorities. We want everyone in our care to be safe, happy, and healthy. We want them to reach their full potential. 

We want them all to have the same opportunities that good parents afford their children. We are committed to being an effective, caring, and ambitious corporate parent. We will show this through: 

•          Our love
•          Our focus
•          Using respectful and loving language
•          Our actions that reflect those of loving parents.

We are loving parents, and care deeply for our children. We will make sure they receive the same standard of care as any good parent would provide. We will protect them and support them to cope with the dangers and risks of everyday life. 

We will celebrate and share in their experiences and achievements, no matter how big or small. We are ambitious for them and will work hard to support them. We will help them achieve their aspirations and reach their full potential. 

We will do everything we can to make sure that our care experienced children are set up for life. 

We want Torbay to be a ‘child friendly’ place. A place that champions our cared for and care experienced children. 

What is a corporate parent champion 

Our aim is to have designated officers as corporate parent champions across all departments. We want them in all our departments and our wholly owned companies. 

The Champions come together every six weeks. They help to shape their department’s role in ensuring that we are good corporate parents. They contribute to Council wide initiatives to enhance our Corporate Parenting offer.