DSCO Business Case

Since 2014 and the implementation of the Children and Families Act, the Council for Disabled Children has been exploring the role of Social Care across the SEND system as part of our role as Strategic Reform Partner to the Department for Education (DfE).

After a series of regional Action Learning Sets held in 2017/18 the development of the role of the Designated Social Care Officer for SEND (DSCO) was identified as one of three themes to be developed in more detail through national Accelerated Working Groups.

Sitting in what is referred to as a “middle-level” leadership role, the DSCO acts as a linchpin between senior leaders, operational staff, partner agencies, and the communities that they serve. From this position, DSCOs improve partnership working and co-production both internally and externally, influence and operationalise social care and SEND strategy, upskill the workforce, ensure compliance with, and understanding of, legislative requirements, raise the status of SEND at both strategic and operational levels, improve early intervention, and ensure that families have a clear understanding of social care and more streamlined interactions with the local authority.

This business case template has been created by the Council for Disabled Children as part of our role as Strategic Reform Partner to the DfE. It is intended for use by commissioners, project managers and senior leaders based within local authorities. 

The business case covers:

• An overview of the DSCO role 
• The DSCO Theory of Change
• Evidence for the impact of the DSCO role
• Learning examples from a range of local authorities
• Outcomes and resourcing

Click here to find out more about the DSCO role