Policy

Corporate Parenting Plan 2022-2024

Updated on 29 August 2022

The Corporate Parenting Plan outlines the university's responsibility to uphold the rights and safeguard the wellbeing of a looked after child or care leaver

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Our core purpose and values

The University's core purpose is to transform lives, locally and globally through the creation, sharing and application of knowledge.

Our core values determine how we will achieve this ambitious vision. We will do this by valuing people, working together and with integrity, making a difference and pursuing excellence.

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.”

The Act is also underpinned by ‘Getting it Right for Every Child’ (GIRFEC), which is a national approach to improving the wellbeing of children and young people in Scotland, and it refers to eight wellbeing indicators (often referred to as SHANARRI - These are often referred to as SHANARRI (Safe, Healthy, Achieving, Nurtured, Active, Respected, Responsible, Included). These distinct yet overlapping indicators highlight the flexibility of care needed, and which offer a holistic view of each young person, identifying their strengths along with their barriers to growth and development. 

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’.

*Within legislation, Corporate Parenting is defined as for those under the age of 26. University of Dundee recognises the importance of a committed approach to support and guidance for all students and endeavours to support all Care-Experienced students, as well as those who face additional barriers to learning, regardless of age.

Students who face additional barriers to learning

University of Dundee demonstrates commitment to inclusion through practice and recognises that our actions are critical in supporting not only Care-Experienced young people but reflects our ambition and vision for all students who face additional barriers to starting, maintaining, and sustaining their academic journey.   Although there is no legislative requirement placed upon the University, it is our wish to widen our Corporate Parenting principles to ensure those values are reflected in supporting access and inclusion while enabling attainment and positive outcomes for our wider student community, in particular those who are Student Carers or are Estranged from family.

At present, many looked after children and Care-Experienced young people experience some of the poorest personal outcomes of any group in Scotland. Low levels of educational engagement and achievement feed into high levels of poverty, homelessness, and poor mental health. Barriers to education which Care-Experienced young people face include lack of funding, disrupted schooling, an unstable home environment, and accessing further and higher education at a later age than their non-looked after peers.

The University of Dundee is fully committed to supporting all young people who have had experience of care and to fulfilling its corporate parenting responsibilities.

The University of Dundee’s Corporate parenting duties

Part 9 of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 has put the concept and policy of ‘corporate parenting’ onto a statutory basis in Scotland with all post-16 education bodies included in the list of corporate parents. As such, the University has a responsibility to be systematic and proactive in its efforts to meet the needs of looked after children and Care-Experienced young people.

  • 58 1(a) Be alert to matters which adversely affect the wellbeing of looked after children and Care-Experienced young people
  • 58 1(b) Assess the needs of those children and young people for the services and support they provide
  • 58 1(c) Promote the interests of those children and young people
  • 58 1(d) Seek to provide opportunities which will promote the wellbeing of looked after children and Care-Experienced young people
  • 58 1(e) Take action to help those children and young people access such opportunities and make use of the services and support provided
  • 58 1 (f) Take action to improve as a corporate parent
  • 59 Prepare publish and keep plan under review
  • 60 Collaborate with other corporate parents
  • 61 Report on fulfilment of corporate parenting duties
  • 62 Provide Scottish Ministers with information on fulfilment of corporate parenting duties
  • 63 Have regard to any guidance about corporate parenting duties

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 plan indicates how we will fulfil these. 

The University of Dundee's Corporate Parenting duties are the responsibility of the whole institution and do not reside with one individual. However, a core element of our Care-Experienced provision is to have a dedicated, named point of contact for Care-Experienced or estranged students and all related inquiries, both internal and external: the University’s named Care Leaver Support Emma Richards, Student Support Adviser based within the University’s Student Services team along with Lauren Durand, Undergraduate Admissions Manager has responsibility for the maintenance and development of our Care-Experienced student provision. Any queries about the University of Dundee's Corporate Parenting Plan and Report or our Care-Experienced provision should be directed to Emma Richards. Any queries relating to admissions, contextualised offers and widening access should be directed to Lauren Durand.            

Contact Emma Contact Lauran
Emma Richards Lauran Durand
Student Support Adviser Undergraduate Admissions Manager
Student Services External Relations
Email erichards001@dundee.ac.uk l.durand@dundee.ac.uk
Tel. +44 (0)1382 388186 Tel. +44 (0)1382 384077

Corporate Parenting Action Plan 2019-21

Continuing to build on the University’s Corporate Parenting Action Plan 2019-21 the plan for 2021 -23 aims to improve and support the implementation of the University’s Corporate Parenting and further the experience of our Care-Experienced students. The University is aiming for a “whole institution” approach to supporting the needs and improving the experience of our Care-Experienced, Estranged or Student Carer students.

Our Aims for 2022-24

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.

 

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