On 22nd June 2022 the Bishop of Derby asked a question she had tabled in the Lords, calling on policymakers to listen to the voices of care-experienced young people when making decisions on social care.
“The Lord Bishop of Derby to ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment that have made of the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care, published on 23 May; and what plans they have to make experience of being in care a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010.“
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Education (Baroness Barran) (Con): My Lords, we are grateful to Josh MacAlister for his important work, which matches our ambition for vulnerable children and their families. We will consider the recommendations in the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care, including the recommendation to make experience of being in care a protected characteristic. The Government will publish the detailed and ambitious implementation strategy later this year.
The Lord Bishop of Derby: I thank the noble Baroness for her Answer. Today, 100 young people in the care system met Members of your Lordships’ House and the other place to express their views on how the care system can be improved, and I know that, like me, she had the privilege of meeting and talking with some of them. Can she say more about how young people will be directly included in the national implementation board of this care review?
Baroness Barran (Con): I did indeed by chance meet a group of young people wearing badges reading “Our care”, so the opportunity was irresistible in view of the right reverend Prelate’s Question. We are building on the work that Josh MacAlister did. He had an advisory board made up of people with experience of the care system, and we are continuing with that approach for our implementation board.
The Church of England in Parliament 