Born out of a 2023 notice of motion which recognised the care experience as being a protected characteristic, the five-year strategy is due to be approved in February.
In the meantime, it was presented to a scrutiny committee meeting on Wednesday (January 14), where it was described as ‘inspirational’.
With care experience not recognised under the 2010 Equality Act, more than 80 authorities have taken it upon themselves to change things on a local level, with West Sussex set to join that number.
Jacquie Russell, cabinet member for children, young people & learning, said people who had been in care ‘should not be defined by their past’ but ‘by their individual potential, resilience and contribution to their communities’.
She added: “Members really should be proud of voting to take this important step towards creating a policy – and ultimately a society – where care experienced people are recognised, valued and supported to thrive.”
At the end of April 2025, the county council was caring for 986 youngsters aged 0 to 18. A further 709 care leavers up to the age of 24 were being actively supported.
Once the strategy is in place, it will work to identify, understand and end the discrimination and unconscious bias which often sees those who grew up in care dismissed as destined to fail.
It will boost the support to which care leavers are entitled as they try to access such things as housing, education, health and employment.
It will help care leavers to recognise discrimination – and help employers, service providers and the like to recognise when an unconscious bias against a young person may have occurred.
Examples given to the committee included the assumption that a person will commit criminal acts because they may have suffered trauma in care.
In a forward to the strategy, Jodie Williams, chair of the West Sussex Care Leavers Advisory Board, wrote: “Recognising care experience as a protected characteristic is more than just a legal step, it’s a long overdue act of humanity.”
She added: “I hope this recognition is the beginning of something much bigger. It’s a chance to challenge the stigma that surrounds children in care and care leavers. The idea that we are broken, difficult, or destined to fail.
“It’s a call to finally see care experience as what it truly is… a source of invaluable knowledge and perspective.”
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