Ask the Expert: Involving children in care

We are keen to involve more children in care in the development of our services, but want to go beyond our children in care council. How can we do this?

It is crucial to involve young people who have experience of the care system in its audit, redesign and improvement. To widen participation, it is worth engaging young people who have left the system and want to help continue its improvement.

Consider engaging senior figures from health, police and business in question time-style events with young people from the care system to help all parties understand the key issues and how things can be improved. It is good to see young people in care speak directly to those in power. Prepare thoroughly to run these events, not only with the young people but also with the adults.

It is important to give young people feedback on what has been done as a result of their involvement. Involve councillors too so that young people get a sense of the decision-making process.

Answered by Paul Clark. Clark is director of the Potential Organisation. He was director of children’s services in Harrow for seven years