What is Corporate Parenting?
In 2014, the Scottish Parliament passed a law called the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014. In this act, a range of organisations in Scotland became Corporate Parents to Care Experienced people.
These Corporate Parents include:
In the law, Corporate Parents have key duties or “responsibilities” to Care Experienced people.
1
They should assess your needs.
For example, Corporate Parents should find out:
- what help you need to do well in school, college or uni
- what they can do to make sure you are healthy and happy at home
- the best way for their organisation to help you
2
They need to be alert and notice if you need some help.
Corporate Parents should:
- understand what it’s like to be a young person in care
- know about the problems you might have, and talk to you about how they can help
- talk to other Corporate Parents who are involved in your life
3
They need to promote your interests and provide opportunities which improve your wellbeing
This means:
- standing up for your rights and making sure you are treated the same as everyone else
- supporting you to take part in activities like sports, music and art
- giving you lots of chances to work with them as a volunteer, trainee or employee
4
Corporate Parents need to take action and make sure that you can access these opportunities.
This means they should:
- give you simple information about how their organisation can help you
- make sure you have the money, transport and support you need to take part
- help you to make appointments, register for services and complete applications if you need it
5
All Corporate Parents need to work together so that they can improve.
They have to:
- make a plan and talk to you about it
- keep track of how they are doing and ask for your feedback
- work together to become better Corporate Parents
Questions?
If you have any questions about Corporate Parenting, email our Education and Engagement Team
Also, don’t forget advocacy.
Understanding Corporate Parenting
Corporate parenting is a legal duty and commitment from public bodies in Scotland to provide the best possible care, support, and opportunities for Care Experienced children and young people.
These organisations—including local councils, health services and national bodies—have a shared responsibility to act as a good parent would.
At Who Cares? Scotland, we champion strong and meaningful corporate parenting by making sure Care Experienced people are listened to, respected and involved in shaping the support they receive. We also work directly with corporate parents to help them understand their responsibilities and improve the way they engage with Care Experienced individuals.
Good corporate parenting can make a lasting difference. Whether you’re a young person wanting to know what you’re entitled to, or a professional seeking to do more, we’re here to guide you every step of the way.