Corporate Parenting Plan 2022-2024: Report

Our Corporate Parenting responsibilities 

University of Dundee is identified as a ‘Corporate Parent’ in the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014.  Corporate Parenting is defined as: 

• An organisation’s performance of actions necessary to uphold the rights and safeguard the wellbeing of a looked after child or care leaver, and through which physical, emotional, spiritual, social and educational development is promoted.

And 

• The formal and local partnerships needed between all local authority departments and services, and associated agencies, who are responsible for working together to meet the needs of looked after children and young people. 

Care-experienced students 

As a Corporate Parent, University of Dundee will support every young person, under the age of 26, who is looked after by a local authority through Foster Care Placement, Supervision Order, Kinship Care Order or in Residential care. In addition, those young people who were in care on or any time after their 16th birthday but are no longer looked after by a local authority, known as a ‘Care Leaver’. 

Committed as a Corporate Parent 

As part of our Corporate Parenting Responsibilities, we are required to demonstrate how we are meeting the requirements in Sections 58 to 61 of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014; this report meets the university’s obligations under Section 61.   

Continuing to build on the University’s Corporate Parenting Action Plan 2019-21, the plan for 2022 -24 set out the following aims:

Aim 1: Review and identify any outstanding actions from previous Corporate Parent Action Plan 2019-21 

Aim 2:The University is an inclusive and supportive place to study where Care-Experienced students feel engaged, included, supported, and valued as part of the University community. 

Aim 3: All staff are alert and aware of matters that might adversely affect the wellbeing and/or achievement of young people particularly Care- Experienced students. 

Aim 4: The University will seek to promote the interest of all our young people who face additional barriers and provide opportunities designed to support achievement, progression and promote wellbeing. 

Aim 5: The University will work to fulfil its role as an inclusive organisation and good corporate parent, working collaboratively with other local and national agencies and corporate parents. 

Update and progress on our aims

Aim 1

Action – key task

• Encourage peer support between care leaver students by inviting all matriculated care leaver students to a social event with free lunch

Lead staff

Student Support Adviser (Care-Experienced Student Support Contact)

Update and progress

Student Services can identify care-experienced applicants and the status of their application from a live report, supporting outreach and engagement pre-entry.
We note that terminology has moved on and the successor plan should refer to ‘care-experienced students’, no ‘care leavers’.

Status

On-going

Action – key task

• Provide appropriate training for University staff (including personal tutors), on the issues, needs, challenges and support available for care leavers.

Lead staff

Director of Student Services
Director of Academic and Corporate Governance

Update and progress

This action should be included again in the new plan as further staff awareness-raising and training will be required to support the launch and delivery of the new plan.
We note that terminology has moved on and the successor plan should refer to ‘Advisors of Studies’, not ‘personal tutors’.

Status

Further action required

Action – key tasks

• Establish named contact within Academic Schools for Care- Experienced Young People, Estranged students and Student Carers similar to that provided currently for Disability (DSO) to ensure needs of student are met and for Student Carers a written and individual Support Plan is enacted to make any ‘reasonable adjustments’ if required.
• Ensure students know who their Adviser of Studies is, as well as other key contacts within Academic School and Student Services.
• Establish peer support groups holding regular meetings and social events for Care-Experienced, Estranged and Student Carer Students.
• DUSA offers independent advice and guidance, complimentary passes for Freshers’ events when these resume
• DUSA to explore the feasibility of having student representation within SRC from Care-Experienced, Estranged or Student Carers

Lead staff

Academic Schools Working groups
Student Support Adviser (named contact)
DUSA executive and relevant DUSA staff

Update and progress

Systems for documenting ‘recurring circumstances’ support requirements well established.
Student Services continues to offer regular outreach to care-experienced students and opportunities to meet up as a group.

Status

On-going

Action – key tasks

• Raising staff/student awareness of the issues and problems faced by Care-Experienced Young People, Estranged students and Student Carers by:
  • Keeping up to date and informed of sector development regarding best practice to inform and develop policy and practice at University of Dundee
  • Staff information about Corporate Parenting available here: Corporate Parenting - Support Smart - LibGuides at University of Dundee
  • University of Dundee working group established and meets regularly. Care-Experienced, Estranged and Student Carers to be invited to participate in meetings of the University’s working groups in relation to these specific students.
  • Introduce a Dundee version of the Open Learning Training module produced by the CEECEF working group. Module modified to create University of Dundee version and planned roll out to all staff and DUSA executive/staff initially targeting staff in Admissions, Student Services, Advisers of Studies, and staff in academic schools who have a front facing role with students.

Lead staff

Named Contacts
Student Support Adviser (Named contact) & Academic Skills Centre
Assistant Director of Student Services
Student Support Adviser (named contact) in collaboration with CITIL, HR
Academic Schools – Senior Advisers of Studies

Update and progress

The launch of the new plan will provide an opportunity to reinvigorate staff networks and provide further awareness raising and training (as above).

Status

Further action required

Aim 2

Action – key tasks

• Communicate with Care-Experienced Young People, Estranged students and Student Carers in a regular and timely way.
• During application process and/or post application depending on when they disclosed their status:
  • Ensure that they have a named contact
  • Students are invited for a support meeting with named contact before or shortly after commencing studies (whichever suits best)
  • Students are offered a Peer Connections Student mentor/buddy
  • Information about Corporate Parenting policy and action plan is available on the University website
  • Care-Experienced Young People, Estranged students and Student Carers to be contacted at time of offer by Student Support (named contact).
  • Information about Care-Experienced Young People, Estranged students and Student Carers to be shared by Admissions with Student Support (named contact)

Lead staff

Undergraduate Admissions Officer/ Admissions
Student Support Adviser (named contact)

Update and progress

Student Services can identify care-experienced applicants and the status of their application from a live report, supporting outreach and engagement pre-entry.
Care-experienced applicants encouraged to participate in the pre-entry Summer School. Promotion of the Student Support team’s STEP induction programme is also targeted at care-experienced students.
The successor plan should consider how the university can ‘brand’ and present its offer to care-experienced students effectively.

Status

On-going

Action – key tasks

• Providing support on an individual basis to meet specific needs or address concerns
• Student Support team provide support and where relevant University Health Service and/or Disability provide “Support Plan” for student and liaise with Academic school staff and external corporate parents as required e.g. schools, social worker etc.
• Self-catering, accommodation provided to Care-Experienced students in the University's halls of residence. Accommodation can be provided for 365 days a year and continued at the request of the student beyond an initial 1st year at the University.
• Provide Care-Experienced Young People, Estranged students and Student Carers with priority access to financial assistance via the University’s Discretional fund.
• DUSA Advice to offer a welcome meeting with co-ordinator of Advice Team/VPSW and tour of DUSA if desired.

Lead staff

Student Support Adviser (Named contact)
Res-Life Manager Student support in residences
Student Support Team
Disability Services
Counselling Service
University Health Service
Residences Office
Student Funding Unit
DUSA executive and relevant DUSA staff

Update and progress

Student Services maintains contact with care-experienced students routinely through their studies.
‘Recurring circumstances’ system well-established to document and share with lecturers additional support requirements.
Accommodation offer well-established and supported.
Student Funding team approaches care-experienced students pre-entry to promote their general support and IT kit available through the digital poverty scheme.

Status

On-going

Aim 3

Action – key tasks

• Establish named contact within Academic Schools for Care-Experienced Young People, Estranged students and Student Carers similar to that provided currently for Disability (DSO) to ensure needs of student are met and for Student Carers a written and individual Support Plan is enacted to make any ‘reasonable adjustments’ if required.
• Ensure students know who their Adviser of Studies is, as well as other key contacts within Academic School and Student Services.
• Establish peer support groups holding regular meetings and social events for Care-Experienced, Estranged and Student Carer Students.
• DUSA to explore the feasibility of having student representation within SRC from Care-Experienced, Estranged and Student Carers.

Lead staff

Academic Schools
Student Support Adviser (named contact)
DUSA executive

Update and progress

The launch of the new plan will provide an opportunity to reinvigorate staff networks and provide further awareness raising and training (as above).
Advisor of Studies system well-established across Schools.
Student Services continues to offer regular outreach to care-experienced students and opportunities to meet up as a group.

Status

Further action required

Action – key tasks

• Providing support on an individual basis to ensure opportunities to support achievement, progression, and promotion of wellbeing.
• As the central point of contact for Care-Experienced students at University of Dundee the named contact can act as liaison between the students and relevant academic and student support services staff.
• The named contact maintains close working relationship with University of Dundee staff members within, for example: Advisers of Studies/ Academic School Office, Student Services Student Support Team, Residences Office, Student Funding, DUSA Advice Centre, University Counselling Service, Disability Service, University Health Service, SWITCH, Peer Connections, Registry and Careers Service.
• If any Care-Experienced requires support or intervention from any of the above. The named contact can advocate on their behalf and ensure their case is considered sympathetically and as a matter of priority.
• Student Support team provide support and where relevant University Health Service and/or Disability provide “Support Plan” for student and liaise with Academic school staff and external corporate parents as required e.g. schools, social worker etc.
• Involvement of SWITCH programme to assist with engagement with societies, sports clubs, or volunteering.
• Self-catering, accommodation provided to Care-Experienced students in the University's halls of residence. Accommodation can be provided for 365 days a year and continued at the request of the student beyond an initial 1st year at the University.
• Provide Care-Experienced Young People, Estranged students and Student Carers with priority access to financial assistance via the University’s Discretional fund.

Lead staff

Student Support Adviser (Named contact)
Student support in Residences
Student Support Team SWITCH coordinator
Disability Services
Counselling Service
University Health Service
Careers Service Residences Office
Peer Connections
Student Funding Unit

Update and progress

Student Services continues to offer regular outreach to care-experienced students and opportunities to meet up as a group.
Advisor of Studies system well-established across Schools.
The launch of the new plan will provide an opportunity to reinvigorate staff networks and provide further awareness raising and training (as above).
‘Recurring circumstances’ system well-established to document and share with lecturers additional support requirements.
Student Funding team approaches care-experienced students pre-entry to promote their general support and IT kit available through the digital poverty scheme.
Accommodation offer well-established and supported.

Status

On-going

Aim 4

Action – key tasks

• Establish named contact within Academic Schools for Care-Experienced Young People, Estranged students and Student Carers similar to that provided currently for Disability (DSO) to ensure needs of student are met and for Student Carers a written and individual Support Plan is enacted to make any ‘reasonable adjustments’ if required. Recurring or Enduring Circumstances system to be offered when appropriate to ensure that students are not continually having to reapply for Mitigating Circumstances if situation or issue has a long-term impact.
• Ensure students know who their Adviser of Studies is, as well as other key contacts within Academic School and Student Services.
• Establish peer support groups holding regular meetings and social events for Care-Experienced, Estranged and Student Carer Students.
• Targeted promotion of the Career Service Provision such as one to one support, skills awards, internship module etc. Careers Team to send targeted promotional emails to Student Support Adviser who will then send directly to Care-Experienced, Student Carer and Estranged students.
• DUSA offers independent advice and guidance. DUSA Advice to offer a welcome meeting with co-ordinator of Advice Team/VPSW and tour of DUSA if desired.
• DUSA to explore the feasibility of having student representation within SRC from Care-Experienced, Estranged or Student Carer.

Lead staff

Student Support Adviser (named contact) / Academic Schools
Student Support Adviser (named contact)
Careers Service and Student Support Adviser (named contact)
DUSA executive and relevant DUSA staff

Update and progress

The launch of the new plan will provide an opportunity to reinvigorate staff networks and provide further awareness raising and training (as above).
Advisor of Studies system well-established across Schools.
Student Services continues to offer regular outreach to care-experienced students and opportunities to meet up as a group.
‘Recurring circumstances’ system well-established to document and share with lecturers additional support requirements.
Student Funding team approaches care-experienced students pre-entry to promote their general support and IT kit available through the digital poverty scheme.
Accommodation offer well-established and supported.

Status

On-going

Action – key tasks

• Raising staff/student awareness of the issues and problems faced by Care-Experienced Young People, Estranged students and Student Carers by:
  • Keeping up to date and informed of sector development regarding best practice to inform and develop policy and practice at University of Dundee
  • Staff information about Corporate Parenting available here: Corporate Parenting - Support Smart - LibGuides at University of Dundee
  • University of Dundee working group established and meets regularly. Care-Experienced, Estranged and Student Carers to be invited to participate in meetings of the University’s working groups in relation to these specific students
  • Introduce a Dundee version of the Open Learning Training module produced by the CEECEF working group. Module modified to create University of Dundee version and planned roll out to all staff and DUSA executive/staff initially targeting staff in Admissions, Student Services, Advisers of Studies, and staff in academic schools who have a front facing role with students. Module to be introduced as compulsory training for new staff.
  • Named support contact to ensure that all Senior Advisers of Studies are aware of the role and liaise as required with them on matters pertaining to Care-Experienced students.

Lead staff

Student Support Adviser (named contact) in collaboration with CITIL, HR
Academic Schools – Senior Advisers of Studies

Update and progress

The launch of the new plan will provide an opportunity to reinvigorate staff networks and provide further awareness raising and training (as above).
Advisor of Studies system well-established across Schools.

Status

Further action required

Aim 5

Action – key tasks

• Membership of national forum groups e.g. CEECEF (Care-Experienced, Estranged, Carers East Forum)
• Continuing partnership working with organisations supporting Care-Experienced young people including local authorities, third sector organisations, funding bodies, other HEIs, schools and colleges. Using sector, organisational and individual best practice to inform and develop policy and practice for Care-Experienced young people within University of Dundee

Lead staff

Student Support Adviser (Named Contact)
Student Support Adviser (Named Contact)
Widening Access staff
Undergraduate Manager, Admissions
Student Funding Officer

Update and progress

Need to reinvigorate local and national network and partnership opportunities specifically around support for care-experienced students.

Status

Further action required