This Corporate Parenting Plan has been developed with co-production as its guiding principle, placing the voices and lived experiences of care experienced children and young people at the centre of every decision. As part of this commitment, we engaged directly with four distinct groups of care experienced young people:
- Care Leavers Council members,
- Children in Care Council
- Oomoo focus group (our commissioned health and wellbeing service for care experienced young people)
- Care experienced children and young people in local schools
We met with our children and young people in the environments where they feel most comfortable and heard. Through these meaningful conversations, we gathered invaluable insights that have not only informed and shaped the content of this plan but will continue to guide its evolution in future iterations. Their perspectives are not just included, they are foundational. This plan is, and always will be, a living document, continually enriched by the voices of those it is designed to support.
Listening to care experienced young people is crucial in shaping and developing our service. The Children in Care Council (CICC) and Care Leavers’ Council are groups of young people who have all been in care, who have had different experiences, and have a view of how things could change.
Wirral Council’s Children in Care Voice Group and Care Leavers’ Council are two key forums that empower young people to shape the services that support them. The Children in Care Voice Group meets monthly, providing a safe space for children and young people in care to share their experiences and influence improvements in care services. Similarly, the Care Leavers’ Council brings together young adults who have left care to discuss their transition to independence and advocate for better support. Both groups play a crucial role in ensuring that the voices of those with lived experience are heard, valued, and acted upon, helping to create more responsive, inclusive, and effective services across Wirral.
The feedback gathered from these groups has not only shaped the overall direction of our Corporate Parenting Plan but has played a pivotal role in the development of our implementation plan. Their insights have helped us identify priorities, tailor our actions to what matters most to young people, and ensure our commitments are grounded in real experiences. Furthermore, this feedback now forms the basis of our discussions with elected members during Corporate Parenting workshops—ensuring that decision-makers hear directly, through us, what care experienced young people need and expect from their Corporate Parents. This ongoing dialogue ensures our actions remain accountable, relevant, and truly co-produced.