Participation - My voice/How can I have my say? For Care Leavers

**The Importance of Participation for CLA & Care Leavers **

CLA & Care Leaver’s Participation is crucial because it empowers children and young people to have their voices listened to, and influence many  decisions that affect their life.

Participation events and the CiCC provides a platform for them to share their experiences, make suggestions to improve and or change services, and be involved in decision making.

This ensures that children and young people have a safe and supportive peer space to influence change, and lead to better outcomes for CLA & Care Leavers

Importance of the Corporate Parenting Forum

The Corporate Parent Forum is a necessary tool and platform for monitoring the wellbeing, and progress of children in care, and care experienced young people. It ensures that the Corporate Parenting roles and responsibilities of the Council are being met.

This forum is important, as a channel that supports and encourages children and young people to be involved, and monitors the council’s performance in fulfilling it’s corporate parenting duties. 

It raises awareness with other council Depts about shared responsibility for children & young people in care.This promotes collaboration and partnership between council departments and partner agencies, leading to positive outcomes for children looked after and care leavers