Member

Having worked closely with young people in care, I know that far too many of them feel that they have been let down by systems that are there to protect them—they often fall through the cracks. While new clause 18 is not a magic wand, it is another important step in the right direction. It says that this Government get it, that we understand what care-experienced young people face. For too many of them, that looks like constantly moving from house to house, from placement to placement. It looks like school changes, often a lack of housing—or certainly a lack of appropriate housing—when leaving care, and different parts of the system not talking to each other. This addition to the Bill would act to change that experience for the better and make that journey through care into adulthood as supported as possible. I ask Ministers to comment on how they see best practice on corporate parenting being promoted in the statutory guidance. I look forward to more joined-up, child-focused work across all agencies as a result of this addition to the Bill.