Council nominated in first ever Corporate Parenting Awards

James Coutts, Service Manager - Community Housing and Homelessness, was shortlisted in the first ever Corporate Parenting Awards under the ‘Equality, Respect & Love’ award category.  In addition, our Education Service was also shortlisted in the ‘Outstanding Educational Practice’ category.

James’ nomination was submitted by the East Lothian Champions Board. Keith Ward from WhoCares? Scotland.

James’ approach is personal and genuine. He makes a concerted effort to connect with group members beyond the formalities of his role, fostering trust and respect. His commitment is evident as he is always the first to sign up for group events, such as update meetings and Christmas meals.

It is a bit humbling to be nominated by the Champs Board and I would like to extend my thanks to them for the nomination and being more amazing than I can ever be.  It is one of the most rewarding aspects of my job to hear about the experiences of those who are in or have come through the care system and see their drive to improve things and in turn to be able to positively change the way our service interacts with those who are care-experienced.  Of course, none of this would be possible without the efforts of my staff who support me in our commitment to help those with care experience in their housing journey, both practically and with real compassion and care - James Coutts

Recently, James with help from his team collaborated with the group to create a resource for first-time council tenants, both physical and digital, called “First Steps.” This resource aims to provide essential information and support, particularly for Care Experienced young people transitioning to independent living. James has kept the group updated on the project’s progress and continues to seek their input.

James also champions a trauma-informed approach, making related training mandatory for all staff in his service area. This ensures that Care Experienced young people receive supportive and understanding engagement from housing staff. Additionally, he has established dedicated points of contact within his service area for Care Experienced individuals, promoting a more personalized and consistent service.

James’ dedication extends to participating in residential visits, such as a camp on Skye, where his presence had a profound positive impact on the attendees. His efforts to increase housing options and resources for Care Experienced people in East Lothian are unwavering.

Members of the Champions Board describe James as “kind, inspirational, and amazing,” highlighting his investment, diligence, and reliability. His compassionate and honest nature makes him a true champion for Care Experienced young people in East Lothian.

The Awards ceremony was held on 22 August and sadly, neither James nor our Education Service won in their respective categories.  Their nominations, however, are testament to their positive and progressive Corporate Parenting practice recognising the key role that East Lothian Council can play in the lives of care-experienced people.