Designated Member of Staff Rachel Calver DMS Chair

Designated Member of Staff Rachel Calver DMS Chair & 18+ Service Manager, 18+ Leaving Care Service, Kent County Council & Emma Mernagh DMS Lead, West Kent College

Workshop Objectives • To recap on the development of support in education for CIC/CL • To discuss progress to date • To discuss next steps

Terminology? ? ? LAC? CIC? CLA? YCL? CIN? • Looked After Child • Child in Care • Child Looked After • Young Care Leaver • Child in Need • Care Experienced The Local Authority that places the young person into care is the responsible authority, regardless of where the young person is living. They could live in Medway but be under Kent LA, or live in Scotland but be under Kent LA. Eligible? • Aged 16 or 17, who has been looked after for at least 13 weeks since the age of 14 and are still looked after Relevant? • Aged 16 and 17 who have been looked after for at least 13 weeks since the age of 14 and who are no longer looked after Former relevant? • Young people aged 18 -25 who have been either eligible or relevant children, or both.

National picture…. o Number of CIC risen by 4% from 2018 -2019 (78, 150) o 56% are male o 39% are aged 10 -15 yrs o 63% in care due to abuse or neglect o Education outcomes for CIC KS 4 o Attainment 8 score for CIC 19. 1, for non-CIC 44. 6 o English and Maths grade 5 or above 7. 2%, for non-CIC 40. 1% o 53% of CIC have SEN at end of KS 4 (14% non-CIC) o Destination data now captured, 78% of those ending KS 4 in 16/17 were in EET during 2017/2018 o Care Leavers o For those aged 19 -21 yrs, 39% NEET (12% non-CL)

National responce…. To improve the educational outcomes for CIC: • Introduction of the Virtual Head Teacher “Children and Families act requires local authorities in England to appoint at least one person for the purpose of discharging the local authority’s duty to promote the educational achievement of its looked after children. That person – the Virtual School Head (VSH) - must be an officer employed by the local authority or, where local authorities agree to collaborate or share the role, another local authority in England. ” • Introduction of the Designated Teacher Section 20 of the Children and Young Persons Act 2008 (“the Act”) places a duty on the governing body of maintained schools to designate a member of staff as having responsibility to promote the educational achievement of looked after children who are registered pupils at the school. Designated post must be a qualified teacher, a head teacher or acting head teacher • Post 16 support 2006 saw the development of the ‘Designated Member of Staff’ for those in College and University in Kent and Medway through the Aimhigher initiative, and led to similar schemes across the country

Medway Virtual School Sarah Hall MVS Headteacher Steven Duthie MVS Deputy Head Teacher Sharon Brown MVS Senior Teacher Gemma Grim MVS Support Officer Emma Brown MVS Officer Chloe Harris MVS Support Officer Abby Whyte MVS Officer

Virtual School Kent Additional staff: • Out of County team • Previous LAC team • Criminal Injuries Team • Participation & Engagement team • Supported by Business Admin team Headteacher Assistant Head (N) Deputy Head (N/W) Deputy Head (S/E) Assistant Head (W) Assistant Head (S) Assistant Head (E) Senior Education Support Officer Fostering Liaison Officer Education Welfare Officer X 4 Education Support Officer

Virtual School Kent – KS 4 & 5 Headteacher Transition Lead (N/W) Sam Perrin Deputy Head (N/W) Deputy Head (S/E) Assistant Heads (N&W) Transition Lead (S/E) Catherine Thompson Assistant Heads (S&E) Post 16/KS 5 Education Support Officer (N) KS 4 Education Support Officer (N) Post 16/KS 5 Education Support Officer (S) KS 4 Education Support Officer (S) Post 16/KS 5 Education Support Officer (W) KS 4 Education Support Officer (W) Post 16/KS 5 Education Support Officer (E) KS 4 Education Support Officer (E)

Current picture…. KENT COUNTY COUNCIL Children in Care (0 -18 yrs) • 1809 (UASC 439, Citizen 1370) o Total number in KS 4 - 354 (Yr 10 -147, Yr 11 -207) o Total number of in KS 5 - 582 (excl OOC & UASC in Reception Centres) Ø Total number UASC in KS 5 – 273 • Total number in EET in KS 5 – 504 (UASC 230, Citizen 274) = 86. 5% o Total number in the main EET categories in KS 5 Ø Education - 90% (College 85%, 6 th form 7. 4%, Specialist 7. 2%) Ø Training Providers 8% Ø Employed 1. 7%

Current picture…KENT COUNTY COUNCIL Care Leavers (18 -25 yrs) • 1788 as of Oct 2020 (53% UASC) o 73% male o 24. 6% aged 18 yrs, 22. 3% aged 21 yrs, o 7% disabled o 60. 4% currently in EET Ø 6% in HE Ø 66% are UASC Ø 81% are male • Accommodation: o 14% living in canterbury (largest area) o 2. 3% in custody o 24. 6% In shared accommodation (Ready Homes, mainly UASC) o 16. 4% in private rented o 13% in social housing o 5. 5% in staying put

Current picture…. MEDWAY COUNCIL 182 open care leavers to the service: • 81% have an up to date PWP • 95% have had PA contact in the last 8 weeks • 20 care leavers are in Staying Put An example of those in accommodation is: • 10 young people have their own private tenancy • 30 are in social housing tenancies • 54 are in supported accommodation • 21 are living with family/friends. • 12 care leavers are currently in prison • 3 aged 19, 3 aged 20 and 6 aged over 21 • 43% are in ETE

Medway LA Post 16 structure Group Manager Team Manager Senior Practitioner X 3 Social Workers X 6 Personal Advisers X 5 Personal Advisers Student Social Worker Parent Support Practitioner

Kent Social Care Structure Kent Social Worker Teams • Children in Care teams supporting those aged 0 -18 yrs • Split into North, South, East and West • Each area has a Service Manager, supported by Team Managers, Senior Practitioners, Social Workers and Social Work Assistants • Separate UASC Duty team – complete initial assessments and transfer to the CIC teams across the county • Adolescent Teams across the county - supporting CIN 18+ Care Leavers Service • Young person transitioned to the service once they turns 18 yrs of age and allocated a Personal Adviser to take over from the Social Worker • Support up to 25 yrs of age, can close and re-open up to 25 yrs regardless of EET status now • Based across two office bases (Dover and West Malling)

Kent 18+ Leaving Care Service Head of Service (Transition & Accommodation) Head of Service (Asylum) Service Manager (Asylum) X 4 Teams X 1 Team X 1 Mental Health Social Worker Service Manager (Transition) X 4 Teams X 4 EET Team X 1 Age Assessment Post Each team has: x 1 Team Manger x 1 Senior Personal Adviser X 7(approx) Personal Advisers X 2 CMF Posts (Inc. Apprentice) Benefits Coordinator Accommodation Manager Rough Sleeping Grant Team X 2 Teams X 1 Mental Health Social Worker

Barriers…… Barriers a young person in care faces with education? • Not being treated equally • Everyone knowing I am in care • Moving schools – changing qualifications being studied • Not knowing where I will live – changing placements • Lack of motivational support - not having someone at home • Needing to earn money • Making friends • ‘parent’ evenings • Lack of consistency with tutors, SW • Technology challenges Barriers you face in education working with this group of young people? • Not knowing who the young people are • Lack of communication with Foster Carers/Social Workers • No link from school • Qualifications • Disclosure issues

Partnership working So, what is a Designated Member of Staff and what do they do? ? Young Person VSK/MVS YP family Tutors DMS Support services SW/PA Home

Designated Member of Staff DMS Operational Group: Chaired by Rachel Calver (KCC 18+ Service Manager), held 3 times per academic year cycle Rep from FEC/HEI to attend to share best practice and discuss challenges CLPP Strategic Group: Chaired by Lucy Mc. Cleod (EKG Principal), held 3 times per academic year cycle, supported by CLPP Project Officer DMS Chair attends to feedback from operational group Senior Managers attend from FEC, HEI, DWP and other key partners Paid membership South East National Network for the Education of Care Leavers (NNECL): Chaired by Anne-Marie Bird, University of Sussex, held 3 times per academic year cycle DMS Chair attends, along with reps from other K&M FEC/HEI to share best practice DMS operational group CLPP Strategic Group South East NNECL National Steering Group

Young People’s view of what support looks like… What do you want to change? Advertise your support so we know what support is available Breakdown the stereotypes of kids in care Create support groups in every school/college/university We want to have more say about what happens to us Empower us so we have much more of a say in what happens to us Who should help? We should be able to choose who we talk to We want to choose who comes to our meetings and represents us, especially at PEP meetings At multi-agency meetings, stop talking about us, and talk to us!

Where are we at…… • Established DMS role in place in all Kent and Medway Colleges and Universities • Increased understanding of the needs of CIC/CL • Improved communication flow between the LAs and the education provider • Respond to changes – increase in ESOL offer • Earlier identification of concerns – attendance issues, financial challenges • What do you think the partnership does well?

So what next…… • What are our ambitions for the future of the DMS collaboration? • What do we want to see for the DMS role in the future? • What can we improve upon? What still falls through the cracks?

Designated Member of Staff role… Reality…. • Being someone young person can access • Be the link between those outside of your educational placement and those inside e. g. Social Worker, Foster Carer, Tutor, VSK • Support young person in accessing all support entitled to within educational placement • Support young person through arranging/attending review meetings • Advocate on behalf of the young person • Be there, listen, don’t judge • Respect their confidentiality • Monitor progress, progression and attainment (may include attendance tracking with the LA (e. g. Welfare Call/VSK Attendance) • Share successes and raise concerns

Designated Member of Staff Review your organisation – Education – checklist General: q Do you have a DMS? Have they received training by the DMS Chair? q Are the teaching staff aware of the DMS role and how to access? q Does your organisation refer to ‘parents’, need to include ‘carers’ q Senior Management buy in? Student Rep? Pre-entry support: q Does your application form ask if they are a CIC/CL? • If yes, then what happens? It needs to go somewhere! q Does your website include information on the support available for CIC/CL? q Can you offer support at open days or interviews? 1: 1 tour instead of attending an open day for those with anxieties? q How do you support with transition? q When does the DMS introduce themselves to the young person? At interview? Enrolment? Induction? q How and when is the bursary applied for and administered? Is it clear? Does it meet the needs of the yp? q Making links with SW/PA, home and tutors – agreeing what will be shared and with whom

Designated Member of Staff Enrolment/Induction/first 6 weeks: q How do you support at enrolment and induction? q What happens in the first few weeks? Settling in meeting with DMS or mentor? Where is this recorded? Shared with anyone? q Link in with other support services where necessary – SEN, Counselling etc q Check that the bursary has been applied for and all clear on how it is administered q Check in with SW/PA and home q Updating VSK/MVS/LAs on confirmed enrolments and vice-versa q Agree PEP process – who, how, when (not impacting on timetabled lessons!!) On-course: q Keeping in contact with young person, checking on progress and well being q Share any concerns or successes – get meetings booked into discuss concerns q Any additional support needed? Tutoring? SEN? Counseling? q Has your organisation signed up to CLPP’s ‘no permanent exclusion’ policy? Progression: q What is the organisation’s approach to progression? Is the young person clear of what is required for further study? What is the back up plan? q Use the PEP or review meeting to be clear on onward plans – honest conversation! End of course: q If the young person left the course before the end, what did they achieve? Can they return?

Partnership working • Child in Care Review – legal requirement, every 6 months, covers everything about the young person – education, health, placement up to the age 16 ish • Pathway Plan – replaces the Child in Care review for those aged 16 plus, legal requirement, every 6 months, covers the same as the Child in Care Review • Personal Education Plan o legal requirement, every 6 months, to focus on the education of the young person (ideally Nov, Mar (and June for progression)) o should be led by the educational provider o as of July 2014, now mandatory for those post 16 o Kent LA is electronic o each LA does it in a different way – decide internally how you want to administer the PEP • Care Leaver Local Offer

Transition…. • To support transition plans – from school to FE or to HE though attending review meetings or locality meetings • Be available for Open Days/other visits to settle nerves early on (during year 11) • VSK will send information on planned destinations • To send information back to VSK on application and enrollment details • To keep VSK/LA informed of any young people who are withdrawn • To support onward progression plans • Link to careers guidance

Your views…… Sharing best practice……and challenges…. What are your actions to take back to your organisation? Any training needs for DMS? Happy to deliver training to new DMS.

Time to go home – to the room next door!!! Thank you. Any questions?