CIC - Participation & Engagement

Cornwall Council has statutory duties in relation to Children in Care (CIC) and Care Leavers, including Participation and Engagement opportunities.

In Care / Leaving Care This service supports and empowers children in care and care leavers to participate; supports children in private fostering arrangements; receives and supports unaccompanied asylum-seeking children; provides specialist support to carers (including special guardians); and, provides life-long adoption support. The services also provide specialist multi-disciplinary support to children on the edge of care and their families, with the aim of preventing family breakdown. Participation & Engagement This service provides an effective, young people led Participation and Engagement service. The service also improves confidence, communication skills, resilience and self-esteem, providing a range of activities which young people are supported to take part in and will:

• Enable learning through a range of information education activities and settings. • Provide opportunities, activities and support or young people to overcome barriers to personal and social development and to develop further their pro-social skills and personal abilities. • Recognises the value of peer support through the provision of peer led activities and programmes and provides further opportunities and roles for young people in care and care leavers to support their peers, i.e. (peer mentoring / befriending schemes.

Current situation: In Care / Leaving Care • Cornwall Council spends approximately £285,668 per year on the Children in Care provision. • The current provider supports circa 160 young people throughout the year.

Participation & Engagement • Cornwall Council spends approximately £112,588 per year on the Participation and Engagement provision. • The current provider supports circa 160 young people throughout the year.