Corporate Parenting
Information and advice for staff supporting students who have been in care.
Support for students who have been in care
Students who have spent time in local authority care before they come to university may be particularly vulnerable. They may not have the family support and advice that we expect most students to be able to rely on, they may not have a “home” to go back to in the holidays, and they may be particularly at risk of financial hardship.
There are a small number of students at the University who have disclosed to us that they have a background in care but there may be others who have chosen not to tell us. It is important that we are aware that any of our students could be care-experienced, that we are alert to their needs, and that we take this into account when we provide them with advice and support.
Under the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014, the University is a Corporate Parent. Corporate parents have a duty to uphold the rights and safeguard the wellbeing of care-experienced young people. This means that the University as a whole must work together to make sure that our care-experienced students are safe, healthy and cared for, and help them to succeed.
The University’s Corporate Parenting Strategy outlines the support that we as an institution offer to care-experienced students.
Information on training available
Who Cares? Scotland provide a programme of training and support.
If you would like a briefing for your team or department, please contact Aoife.keenan@ed.ac.uk
We are developing online training on care experience for university colleagues. This should launch in early 2020.
Contact details for advice when working with students
Aoife Keenan Aoife.keenan@ed.ac.uk