Our children: Sandwell's future

Children and young people at risk of harm are entitled to protection. We will prevent the need for children to come into care by employing well qualified social workers and supporting them to work with families. To keep those children who have to come into council care safe, we will look after them well by recruiting more foster carers in the borough. We will also support children and their families by joining up what we do with the health service, police and others.

Some children and young people cannot remain in the care of their families. The council therefore acts as their parent. Our aims are to ensure the young people we look after:

live in safety
have their own social worker who visits regularly
are happy with their care.

Like all good parents, we don't see our role ending when young people turn 18. That means helping them become independent adults by supporting them to find somewhere suitable to live and choose a future direction in their lives - further education, training or work.

As well as keeping children and young people safe, the council has a role in education. Exam results in Sandwell are improving year-on-year.

The council's control over schools is lessening as Governments give them more independence. This means we need to find new ways of working with schools who wish to continue working with the council. We will work with schools to make sure children attend, enjoy their time there and get the best qualifications they can for whatever they go on to in life.

Our Children's Centres have a special role in early learning before children start school - and other council services such as libraries and cultural activities help boost opportunities for family learning.

We work with disabled children and their families so the young people have the same opportunities as others and get support as they make the transition to life as adults.