'Corporate parenting' is the term used to describe the responsibility of the local authority towards ‘looked after’ children and young people. This is a legal responsibility given to local authorities by the Children Act 1989 and the Children Act 2004.
Bolton Council is the corporate parent of all 'looked after' children and young people in the Bolton area.
This means that all council employees, service areas, departments, directorates and elected members must consider ‘looked after’ children and young people as if they were their own children and provide services for them accordingly.
Councillors have an important role to play in overseeing the services provided for looked after children and young people. They can see to it that the services provided are improving their chances in life by making sure that they would be good enough for their own children.
Bolton's Corporate Parenting Panel
Bolton Council has a Corporate Parenting Panel made up of councillors and staff from every council department. They meet regularly to make sure that the Corporate Parenting Strategy is being upheld. For more information, please see 'related documents' or contact us.