Sarah Cooper-Lesadd, a Reform MS, has shared her personal story of being abandoned twice as a baby, highlighting the urgent need for enhanced protections for children in care in Wales. Despite being adopted at seven, she argues that the current system fails to provide adequate legal safeguards for care-experienced children, unlike in England where the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 has strengthened such protections.
In her recent Senedd debate, Cooper-Lesadd emphasized that while local authorities are seen as ‘corporate parents’, other bodies like health boards lack a legal obligation to support these vulnerable children. She proposed that if a child in care visits A&E, health boards should be legally required to consider their unique disadvantages, ensuring they receive appropriate care and support.
The Welsh government maintains that existing measures, including the Corporate Parenting Charter, already provide comprehensive support. However, Cooper-Lesadd argues that without statutory backing, care leavers have no recourse if these bodies fail to meet their obligations. This lack of accountability could leave many children without the necessary support during critical transitions into adulthood.
As the debate unfolds, the implications of these proposals could reshape the landscape for care-experienced children in Wales, potentially leading to significant changes in how they are treated by public services and ensuring their needs are prioritized in the system.
Source: BBC News
