Agenda item

Report from Cabinet Member for Children and Young People.

The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Children and Young People presented the report which sought approval for Bury Council to sign up to the Care Leaver Covenant (CLC). The CLC work with more than 500 organisations to connect young people with care experience to exclusive opportunities. By becoming a partner of the CLC, Bury Council will join 92 other unitary local authorities in demonstrating their commitment to care experienced young people.

Decision:

Cabinet:

1. Agreed to endorse and note Bury’s Council’s partnership with the Care Leaver Covenant, placing it alongside strategic partners within the sector, such as the Local Government Association and SOLACE, as well as leading councils, such as Leeds City Council, and signifying Bury’s support for a ‘whole council’ approach to supporting our care experienced young people.

Reasons for recommendation(s)

Signing up to the Care Leaver Covenant will reinforce Bury Council's commitment to supporting young people with care experience by providing them with valuable opportunities for their future. The Care Leaver Covenant provides a framework for councils to support young people with care experience by connecting them to exclusive opportunities. By becoming a partner of the CLC, Bury Council will join 92 other unitary local authorities who have adopted the 'Whole Council Approach'. The key benefits include:

• Opportunity Take-Up: Encouraging care leavers and support workers to register with the ‘Connects’ app, enabling offers and opportunities to be shared with them. Internal council opportunities will be promoted through the ‘Care Leaver Friendly Employers Charter.’ The 'Inclusive Employers Toolkit' can also be shared with external employers.

• Awareness Raising: Promoting the Care Leaver Covenant within the council's supply chains, procurement, and commissioning services. The council can invite the CLC to speak at events or meetings with businesses and partners, enhancing social value requirements to include outcomes for care leavers. The Social Value Toolkit can be used to strengthen these outcomes.

• Policy Collaboration: Forming a council-wide representative working group to demonstrate partnership working and support the Covenant's initiatives. The economic development and procurement teams can offer proactive support.

• Care Leaver Covenant Ambassador: Appointing an ambassador who will work with the CLC engagement team and be kept informed about ongoing efforts and opportunities – an officer has already been identified for this role.

• Working in collaboration with the CLC, Councils bring together care leaver champions from across their authority with a view to unlocking opportunities from both internal and external partners. The Covenant’s engagement team collaborate with business and community partners, linked to the Council’s economic development team, to develop a localised network of Covenant signatories.

• As an employer, leading by example, Bury Council will also create protected employment opportunities for their care leavers alongside a supportive pre/post-employment pathway defined by the principles of the CLC’s ‘Care Leaver Friendly Employer’s Charter.’

Alternative options considered and rejected:

The main alternative option would be not to sign up and to seek to develop our own support networks and arrangements. However, it costs nothing to sign up to the covenant and the Care Leavers Covenant has widespread sector credibility and profile. Signing up to the Covenant signals the council’s commitment to care experienced young people, while also providing a framework to develop that commitment further and to support improved outcomes for our care experienced young people.

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