Ealing Council last night scooped two prestigious national awards for its work with children and young people in care.

At the Children and Young People’s Services Awards 2006, the council was named the nation’s best corporate parent, and the council’s looked-after children education team was honoured as the UK’s social care team of the year.

The judging panel, which included young people, said Ealing Council was “unbeatable” when it came to providing education support for young people in care and focusing on their different needs.

Ealing was the only council to win two awards and the only authority to be nominated for four awards – the highest number of nominations. The two other nominations were in the categories of council of the year and anti-bullying work.

Councillor Ian Gibb, deputy leader and cabinet member for children’s services, said:  “This is a truly outstanding result that reflects all the positive things that are happening within the service and the hard work that so many people are putting in. Our success as a corporate parent is founded on our commitment to listening to looked after young people and acting on what they say.  Our efforts are having powerful results. An impressive 13 per cent of our care leavers are going on to university and so many are involved in mentoring younger students and improving services."

The young judges said: “The education is incredible. They have got (more than) 12 per cent of their care leavers into university. On education, they are unbeatable.”

Comprising a coordinator and four teachers, the team works to improve educational achievement for the borough’s 450 looked-after children and 225 care leavers. It works closely with young people, their foster carers and youth and social workers to ensure they have the best opportunities to learn and develop.  The team arranges after-school study support, arranges work experience and assists with university and further education applications. It also leads a wide range of holiday activities such as theatre and museum visits and trips abroad.  Success is recognised at an annual education awards ceremony.

“When the team started six years ago, only 17 per cent of young people gained one GCSE, but that has now shot up to 60 per cent, and more are going on to university than ever before,” Cllr Gibb said.

December 3, 2006