At the Children and Young Peoples’ Scrutiny Committee on Wednesday we looked at the Council’s draft “Corportate Parenting Strategy”.

This aims to set out, in broad terms, how the Council looks after children that come under its care – either in childrens’ homes or foster care.

As of 30th April 2010, Stockport had 321 Looked After Children, mostly placed in foster homes and the council’s two children’s homes.

To summarise the whole strategy in one sentence:

A Care Leavers’ group has suggested that the term LAC (Looked After Child) should refer to being “Loved, Appreciated, Cherished”.

That’s what the council strives for, and what it’s made a lot of progress on (the two council children’s homes are very highly rated and won plaudits from one councillor).

It’s easy to say; often harder to do.  It’s tough to love, appreciate and cherish the teenager from the broken home who’s just sworn at you and stormed out.

But it’s so important, and Stockport provides a great deal of support for foster carers (plus money to cover the additional costs of fostering).

If anyone’s interested in finding out more about making the difference that turns someone’s life around, by fostering and adoption, visit the Council website here.

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