What is Corporate Parenting?

When a child comes into care, the local authority has a statutory responsibility to act as the ‘corporate parent’.  This mean it has the collective responsibility along with its elected members, employees, and partner agencies to be the best parent it can be to that child. Every member and employee of the council must act for that child in the same way that a good parent would act for their own child.

Being a corporate parent is about wanting the best for the child, to see them:

  • flourish with good health
  • be safe and happy
  • do well at school and enjoy good relationships with their peers
  • contribute to their community
  • make the most of leisure opportunities, youth work services, hobbies and interests
  • grow towards adulthood equipped to lead an independent life
  • make their way as adults through education, good careers and jobs of their choice, and to be financially secure

Whilst the statutory responsibility for corporate parenting is with local authorities, any organisation can have a role in a child or young person’s life.  That is why we are encouraging all public sector bodies, private sector and the third sector organisations to become a corporate parent to care-experienced children and young people.

In short, it’s about treating a care experienced child or young person with the love and support that you would treat your own.

Corporate Parenting Charter

The Welsh Government has developed a Corporate Parenting Charter so organisations wanting to become corporate parents can sign up – link below

Corporate parenting charter | GOV.WALES

On signing the charter, organisations receive a welcome letter and pledge template from the Welsh Government.

What corporate parenting involves

Accompanying the Charter is a Corporate Parenting Toolkit which sets out how organisations can help care experienced young people, link below.

 What-does-it-mean-become-corporate-parent.

This help might look like:

  • including the child in decisions about their care, if you are a local authority or health authority;
  • involving care experienced young people in the design of your service;
  • re-evaluating hiring practices to encourage employment and better opportunities for care experienced young people.

Community of Practice

The Welsh Government is planning to set up a Community of Practice for organisations who have signed up to the Charter in the autumn of 2026.  The purpose of this Community of Practice would be to provide a forum for organisations to

  • Promote productive discussion and encourage collaborative solutions in aspects that members find challenging, for example in how to reach a partnership agreement.
  • Showcase achievements, share lessons learnt/pitfalls and how to overcome common challenges.

It is hoped a first meeting of the forum will take place in early October 2026. 

If you wish to find out more about how your organisation can be a corporate parent or take part in Community of Practice, please email CorporateParenting@gov.wales.

We also intend to use this space to share information and good practice.