Features of the scheme include:
Each institution designates at least one appropriate member of staff who will be available to offer specific support and guidance to young people with a background in care All Designated Members of Staff (DMS) will be released by their institution to undergo ongoing specialised training appropriate to the DMS role, delivered by specialist members of the AHKM Partnership including Student Service Managers, Local Authority staff and 16 plus teams. The AHKM Partnership advertises the DMS scheme through posters and contact cards at local authority centres, FECs and HE campuses Each institution commits to support all care leaver students who make themselves known to the DMS The AHKM Partnership offers prospective care leaver students the opportunity to visit campuses and/or talk to the DMS prior to enrolment The AHKM Partnership provides information and guidance on FE/HE, including web and paper versions of a Guide to Further and Higher Education for Young People Leaving Care in Kent and Medway. The role of the Designated Member of Staff (DMS)
- To support care leaver student to secure accommodation (where required)
- To liaise with institution staff on behalf of the student
- To participate in the care leaver’s Personal Education Plan (when requested)
- To offer information and guidance on financial support
- To ensure that any additional educational support is identified
- To offer ongoing pastoral care
- To support the student to make an HE application (where appropriate)
- To use an AHKM Partnership referral form to identify care leaver students (with permission) to the DMS at their prospective FE/HE Institution
Future Improvements
Aimhigher Kent and Medway are currently considering ways in which the role of the DMS may be accredited.
Case Studies
Case Study One
Last year M applied to do an HND at an FE college in London. She found it difficult to decipher the information and complete the forms required to secure accommodation and, with her social worker busy, she was left to manage things herself.
M attempted to find accommodation by phoning the college, however the accommodation officer was often not available and the young person did not always have enough credit on her phone to pay for the calls. It was at this point that M contacted the designated member of staff (DMS) at her current FEC, who contacted the London College, located the appropriate accommodation officer and found more detailed information on available accommodation. M gave the DMS permission to mention her care-leaver status and this seemed to secure a more helpful response from the college. The DMS then helped M to complete the necessary forms. Finally, she was allocated a room in the nearby university campus, which allocates a number of rooms for college HND students.
M settled in well and is enjoying her course.
Case Study Two
During February last year, S attended a careers interview held by the DMS and expressed interest in a course offered at the further education college (FEC). S disclosed that he was a local young care leaver who had very little contact with his local authority. The DMS informed him of support available at the college and arranged a meeting for him with representatives from the local authority. At this meeting, and subsequent discussions with the college Welfare Advisor, they discussed S’s commitment to study and how his educational support needs may be jointly met by the local authority and FEC. S requested that the DMS be present throughout these meetings, to provide support and speak on his behalf.
Following enrolment at the FEC, S and the DMS continued to meet at regular intervals. S asked the DMS to attend his Pathway Plan meeting with the local authority, where it was agreed that the DMS would act as liaison on issues such as attendance. On S’s request, the DMS made contact with the course tutor and drew up an agreement to monitor his needs and attendance throughout the course.
S is doing very well on his GCSE course with 98% attendance. He plans to continue onto an Access course at the FEC and then to university.
Case Study Three
The DMS had an informal meeting with J at a university induction event. Once aware of his care- leaver status, the DMS arranged a meeting for J with the university Student Services department, who gave him information on financial and study support.
J needed Occupational Health Clearance before he could begin an element of his HE course, but it was delayed due to past medical history.A few weeks into the first term J visited the DMS in a distressed state because his OH and CRB certificates had not yet been released.As J’s student bursary could not be released until he had received these documents, J was left with very little money.The DMS met with J and his local authority support worker to discuss university financial procedures, and then liaised with finance team who agreed to award J with a short term loan. The DMS reassured J and liaised with the relevant departments on his behalf to release his bursary.This was followed up with ongoing support throughout J’s course.
J made it to final year and graduated!
Case Study Four
D was referred to the University DMS by his academic department, when he approached an academic member of staff to discuss difficulties with a piece of work. D had explained to the staff member that he was struggling to cope with his academic work due to financial and social worries. It emerged that D was sleeping rough on occasions and had no home. D was in poor physical health, with a history of being ‘in care’ and with no family support. Contact with social services had stopped once he started university.
The DMS met with D and assisted him in submitting an Access to Learning Fund application. He was awarded the maximum financial package.
The DMS continues to offer ongoing support to D.
For more information, please contact the Manager of the DMS Rachel Calver on staff-rlc@thanet.ac.uk or sarah.hurrell@canterbury.ac.uk
