The role of the designated manager

Recommendation 4 in the Learning With Care report states that: 'Schools should take particular care to identify the learning needs of all their looked after children, set them challenging but realistic educational targets and systematically monitor the progress made. A senior member of staff in each school should maintain an overview of looked after children’s progress and take responsibility for ensuring that appropriate measures are in place for supporting the children’s education.'

As a result of this recommendation local authorities across Scotland took steps to ensure that a designated senior manager for looked after children and young people (DSM) was identified in each of their educational establishments. However, the 'We Can and Must Do Better' report noted that whilst each educational establishment had an identified designated senior manager for looked after children and young people, there was still a great deal of variation in how this role was both defined and carried out across Scotland. Furthermore, 'We Can and Must Do Better' stated: 

'Our looked after children and young people need someone both in school and at home who understands their issues and supports their educational attainment.'

Action 9

In partnership with COSLA, local authorities and Learning and Teaching Scotland, we will produce a list of core tasks which clarifies the roles and responsibilities of the designated person within each school or residential establishment who undertakes this important role.

Having a designated senior manager who has a responsibility for all looked after children and young people within each school and who understands about care and the impact of care upon education is critical to making joint working a reality.  

Action 9 also gives a commitment to introduce the role of designated senior manager with a responsibility to promote improved educational outcomes within residential establishments. 

The core tasks in relation to the role of DSM within schools and residential establishments were published by the Scottish Government in September 2008.

The core tasks will be supported by the fully revised 'Learning With Care' training materials, the guidance for the practitioners emanating from the national research of the pilot programme aimed at improving educational outcomes for looked after children and young people and the challenging transitions toolkit.