Young people’s views on the role of the designated teacher Aim: The aim of this presentation is to talk about our views on what makes an effective designated teacher Warm up game! This game focuses on making changes and relates to our objective: For you to identify ways to make positive changes in your role

Taking the time to know the young person Getting to know the young person is important so that you can identify what they want and need; one young person might want a regular meeting whilst others might not want to appear different from their peers. The designated teacher should be a reliable person as young people looked after often have many adults who come and go in their lives, they have no consistency. Therefore the designated teacher would be one of the few constants in that young persons life. It also means that the young persons voice will be heard and expressed by someone who knows them well. Sometimes the young person will choose another individual who they relate to who can act in a mentoring role, rather than the person who is appointed as designated teacher, a person they can trust and express their feelings to.

Communication Task! 1) We feel that an open door policy is more beneficial than inflexible meetings. E)So the designated teacher can support young people as a problem arises. 2) A designated teacher should listen to a young persons struggles and jointly plan how they are going to resolve any issues or provide support. B) Joint decision making can then empower the young person rather than taking the decision out of the young persons hands. 3) Regarding communication with carers and social workers, whilst it is important to have this good link, we feel that not everything needs to be discussed outside of school. D) Things can be blown out of proportion and sometimes easily dealt with in school. 4) The designated teacher would ideally show that they are actively listening to the young person but not show sympathy. C) But Showing empathy and understanding is important to be supportive. 5) It is important to be sensitive to certain triggers which may be sensitive to the young person. The designated teacher can communicate these triggers to teachers whilst being sensitive to confidentiality. A) The teachers do no need to know everything about the young persons situation or past. On your tables, work together to link the statements in the left column with the follow up statements in the right column

Provides Subtle Support It is important for any support to be subtle because young people do not always want others to know they are in care, to be identified as different from their peers. Regarding any meetings held in school, the young person should know about this before the lesson they will be taken out of, so it’s their responsibility to leave the class, rather than an adult coming into class to get them, this can be embarrassing.

Has my best interests at heart The designated teacher should be an advocate for the young person, flights their corner and always has their best interests at heart. On occasion, teachers feel that the kindest thing to do is to put the young person in a lower group, in the hope that the young person will not feel too under pressure with the other struggles in their lives. It is important to be aware that many of us like challenges and high expectations of our abilities, not the expectation that we won’t cope. Being flexible is also important. When a particular strategy is not working the designated teacher should be flexible in their approach to try other things and not give up on the young person.

Peps Keeping numbers down is key. On occasion, there are too many unwanted people present. This is the young persons meeting and therefore too many adults makes the young person intimidated and unable to express their feelings. When targets are regularly discussed and progress is encouraged, young people feel that their achievements matter. Otherwise the pep can seem like a tick box exercise. It is important to celebrate the positives in peps and not focus on the negatives which can de-motivate and demoralise the young person.

A worrying statistic... play your cards right style! Around 30% of 19 year olds in the average population go into higher education. But what percentage of looked after children go into higher education? 7% 85% of all young people enter education training and employment compared to what percentage of leaving care? 65% Around 65% of the general population attain 5 good GCSE’s compared to what percentage of looked after children? 14% 3% of all young people have a statement for SEN compared to what percentage of looked after children? 28% As a designated teacher you can make positive changes for the young person ensuring they have the best possible opportunities in education. Its time to make a change....because we’re worth it!

Positive change On your post it, please take a moment to write down two key things that you would like to change in order to make positive changes in your role as Designated Teacher Thank-you!