Looked after children Corporate parenting principles
The term "corporate parent" is generally used to describe the relationship between a local authority and a child who is "looked after" within the meaning of section 22 of the Children Act 1989 ("the 1989 Act"), or between a local authority and a child or young person who was looked after by them and in respect of whom the local authority has ongoing duties and powers under sections 23A to 24D of the 1989 Act. This latter group of children and young people are referred to as "care leavers".
	The 1989 Act and legislation made under it impose a range of specific duties on local authorities towards looked after children and care leavers, for example through the Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) Regulations 2010 and the Care Leavers (England) Regulations 2010. Thus local authorities must assess the child or young persons’ needs, prepare and review care plans (for looked after children) and pathway plans (for care leavers) and provide certain types of assistance. There are also some general duties imposed on local authorities in the discharge of their functions in respect of children and young people. Section 22(3) of the 1989 Act requires a local authority to safeguard and promote the welfare of the children it is looking after. Section 10 of the Children Act 2004 requires a local authority in England to make arrangements to promote cooperation with specified partners with a view to improving the wellbeing of children in their area. Section 11 of the Children Act 2004 further requires a local authority in England to make arrangements to ensure that their functions are discharged having regard to the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. Section 19 of the Children and Families Act 2014 requires a local authority to have regard to the need to support and involve children and young people when exercising functions in connection with special educational needs and disability.