Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed all present to the meeting and read out the Building Evacuation Procedure.

Apologies for Absence

There were no declarations of interest received at this point in the meeting.

Members were provided with a Care For and Care Experience Engagement update and a report was presented to cover activity from July-December 2025. The Voice and Influence Manager highlighted during Care Experienced Month in November, the police had run a drop-in session at the Live Well Centre for our cared for and care experienced young people where they had the opportunity to ask the police questions and hear more about what they do. One of our Volunteer Ambassadors had also delivered a talk to police trainee recruits, reflecting on his experiences with policing both positive and negative. This led to constructive discussion about the ways in which adverse life experiences and trauma can affect behaviour and lead to involvement with the criminal justice system.

A Member queried how the talk was received by the police.

It was confirmed that the feedback from the new recruits was very complimentary and they were keen to ask questions and learn from the Volunteer’s experiences.

Following a discussion with one of our Volunteer Ambassadors after the last Corporate Parenting Board meeting, Members also heard that Geoff Field (Director of Environment and Community Services) had invited cared for and care experienced young people to hear about what his service was responsible for within Middlesbrough Council and career opportunities that were available. One young adult applied for one of the Refuge Collector posts and successfully got the job. A proposal on how to get more care experienced young people to work in Geoff's service area will be presented to DMT in 2026.

The Corporate Director of Children’s Services added that this initiative will also be fed back to leadership across other areas of the Council and partners to maximise opportunities for our young people. It was also noted that support should be put in place for young people who were in a transitional stage and not yet ready for employment, to gain experience and become prepared to enter the workforce. This could be done through interview training, employability skills etc.

One of our Volunteer Ambassadors continued the engagement update and advised Members that Pathways had invited their young adults to enjoy free access to Scream Factory in October after a successful trip in 2024. 14 young adults were supported by four Pathways staff and it was enjoyed by all who attended.

It was also noted that Councillor Luke Henman had arranged for some of our care experienced young adults to meet the MP Andy McDonald. They were joined by Councillor Henman and the Mayor Chris Cooke on the day. Councillor Henman advised that it was a very useful session and our young people heard about how they had got into politics and the different roles and responsibilities within local and central government. Our young people also had opportunity to share their experiences and Councillor Henman highlighted that the MP was very motivated by the discussions and was going to discuss further with decision-makers.

Lastly, the Voice and Influence Manager advised that a group of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 24/5

The Corporate Director of Children’s Services delivered a presentation on developing a thematic approach for future meetings of the You Matter to Us – Corporate Parenting Board. She began by highlighting that all Councillors were corporate parents and the role of the Corporate Parenting Board was to consider how the Council was collectively fulfilling the role. The Director encouraged Members to consider what they would want for their own children and how well equipped they currently feel to fulfil the role of a corporate parent.

The Director continued that in previous meetings, there had been a significant amount of data presented covering many areas. Members were asked whether there were particular themes for which additional detailed data would be useful, allowing them to explore topics in greater depth. The importance of a joined-up approach was also highlighted, noting that disseminating information more broadly to our cared for and care experienced children, Councillors, staff and beyond was equally important as ensuring it was brought to the Board.

Members noted that it was important to hear the views of young people and what they require from their corporate parents. Training sessions for Councillors who do not understand their responsibilities as a corporate parent open to all Councillors would be useful and it was also suggested that data for future meetings was provided in a more concise and accessible format than previously, with Officers having the opportunity to highlight pertinent parts. It was also suggested that data could be circulated ahead of the meeting and important parts discussed in further detail at the meeting if necessary to optimise time available during the Board meetings.

One of our Volunteer Care Ambassadors raised that Housing, Employment and Mental Health provision were very important topics for care experienced young people in Middlesbrough.

A Member queried the level of support provided to schools to ensure they are adequately equipped to prepare cared for and care experienced school leavers for the workforce.

It was confirmed that every school had a designated teacher who was accountable for children in care, usually a member of the Senior Management Team, and the Council offered training for this designated member of staff. The Council also worked in partnership with schools to provide opportunities for young people to visit universities and receive mentoring. The Virtual School worked closely with Middlesbrough College to ensure a smooth transition for school leavers and offer support to young people with their education, future pathways and work experience through online mentors. 

The Volunteer Care Ambassador added that college and home life often bled into one another for care experienced children as there was a shortage of ‘third places’. It was important that cared for and care experienced children had a third space where they could feel safe and develop a sense of community and social support which could contribute to mental wellbeing.

It was also raised by the Volunteer Ambassador that cared for and care experienced children should not be forced into counselling and similar provision as  ...  view the full minutes text for item 24/6

None.