The Designated Social Care Officer (DSCO) supports work with children and young people aged 0 to 25 with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
The DSCO works with education, health and social care services to help make sure social care responsibilities for children and young people with SEND are understood and met.
What the DSCO does
The DSCO can provide advice and support on social care matters involving children and young people with SEND.
They can:
- act as a link between education, health and social care for queries about SEND and education, health and care plans (EHCPs)
- attend Lambeth SEND panels and provide a social care perspective
- support quality assurance of EHCPs and provide feedback to social care professionals
- provide SEND and EHCP training and support to social care professionals
- work with the Lambeth Parent Carer Forum and other voluntary and support organisations
- take part in SEND local area inspections
- review and provide social care evidence for SEND tribunal cases where this is needed
- work with partners during mediation to help resolve disputes outside of a tribunal
- advise education settings about social care matters and threshold decisions
Who can contact the DSCO
Professionals working in education, health or social care can contact the DSCO for advice or support.
You can contact the DSCO for:
- support to meet a child or young person’s social care or SEND needs
- a case discussion about social care input to an EHCP
- a case discussion about social care transitions
- advice on statutory guidance, legislation and policy
If your query is about a child or young person, you must have consent before sharing their personal information.