Rutland County Council Takes Action to Support Care Experienced Individuals
Rutland County Councillor speak about supporting those who have experienced care, a employee who experience care and is now employed by Rutland County Council, they spoke to those attending the meeting. Please watch the video to hear the interesting comments. This concern has been given a higher profile recently due Fatima Whitbread's campaign, who herself is a care experienced person.
Rutland County Council agreed at its meeting on the 25th March 2024 to to ‘support and treat care experience as if it were a Protected Characteristic in Law’ to join the many other Local Authorities who have already done so.
It also agreed to Request that the leader lobby national Government to have this enshrined in law so that there is an equity for all care experienced people.
Rutland County Council is taking a significant step to better support individuals with care experience. The council recognises the challenges faced by those who have been in the care system and is committed to providing them with the opportunities they deserve.
The council is adopting the approach of treating "care experience" as a protected characteristic, similar to existing protections based on age, disability, race, and religion. This aligns with the recommendation of the Independent Review of Children's Social Care (May 2022).
By integrating care experience into established support mechanisms, the council ensures that supporting these individuals becomes a fundamental part of all policy and decision-making processes.
This means, care experienced individuals have access to the support and opportunities they need to succeed. Barriers to achievement are reduced. Addressing Challenges and Promoting Understanding
Care-experienced individuals often face discrimination and societal misconceptions. Recognising care experience as a protected characteristic acknowledges these challenges and paves the way for increased awareness and education about care experience.
This action builds upon the council's existing commitment to supporting all children and young people. It further strengthens these efforts and promotes a more inclusive and understanding environment.
The council goes beyond its own actions by advocating for national change. By lobbying the government, the council aims to have care experience enshrined in law, ensuring consistent support throughout the country.
Rutland County Council joins a growing number of local authorities taking similar steps. This collaborative approach sends a strong message of support to care-experienced individuals across the UK.
