The Hammersmith and Fulham Corporate Parenting Board has announced a series of significant achievements for the 2025-2026 period, with a strong emphasis on enhanced governance, improved data monitoring, robust support for fostering and kinship care, and better housing and participation opportunities for care leavers.
During the Families, Health and Care Policy and Accountability Committee meeting on Monday, June 29, 2026, the committee received a comprehensive update on the board's successes. The report highlighted strengthened governance, evidenced by a detailed analysis of 903 returns that tracked placement stability and demographic shifts. Furthermore, enhanced data monitoring has led to increased accuracy in tracking missing episodes and health assessments for looked-after children.
The recruitment and support processes for foster carers have been streamlined. A new Kinship Strategy has been implemented to offer needs-led support, which includes therapeutic services, financial aid, and bespoke training. Efforts are also underway to align housing policy with family services to help ease pressures on kinship placements.
For care leavers, housing protocols have been strengthened, leading to a significant reduction in eviction rates. This improvement is attributed to enhanced accommodation quality and tenancy support. Employment pathways have been expanded through engagement with over 90 organisations, and personalised education and training plans are now in place, focusing on strengths-based approaches.
The Virtual School has also reported improvements in academic progress and support for children in care. A key focus has been on reducing exclusions through trauma-informed practice and attachment-aware training. To foster social, emotional, and personal growth, enrichment activities such as drama workshops and residential trips have been implemented.
Youth engagement has been a significant focus, with young people contributing to recruitment processes and participating in community activities like tree planting and cultural events. A participation strategy has been developed, utilising digital content to amplify youth voices.
In terms of mental health and emotional wellbeing, the board highlighted the promotion of support services like Kooth and efforts to address engagement barriers for vulnerable groups. Therapeutic support for caregivers has been recognised as crucial for improving the emotional wellbeing of young people.
The board also reviewed adoption activities, noting strong partnerships and improved matching across boroughs. However, challenges remain, including longer wait times for Black and mixed-heritage children and those with complex needs. To address this, the Black Adoption Project and therapeutic support are providing identity-affirming and targeted care.
Further details on the committee's proceedings can be found in the Public reports pack and the Agenda frontsheet.
