Clare was first elected as a Bristol City councillor in May 2006 and became the lead member for Children’s Services in February 2009. Becoming a councillor only seemed possible when Clare retired from teaching and has been a swift learning curve in understanding the breadth of responsibility that such a post entails. Bristol has the usual range of problems encountered in social care in a large city. The city has an in-house fostering service which continually works to expand as it offers good outcomes for our looked after children and very good value for money. We also commission from the independent sector with a small number of residential homes which gives us flexibility in placement. Like many lead members, Clare chairs the Corporate Parenting panel which is supported and challenged by experts from Bristol University.