Designated Social Care Officer

The Designated Social Care Officer (DSCO) is a strategic role within Cheshire East Council. The DSCO connects social care with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) services, ensuring that children and young people receive the right support at the right time.

Key Responsibilities

• Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plans - Ensures social care input into EHC needs assessments and reviews is timely, high quality, and reflects lived experience.
• Joined‑up Planning - Coordinates social care advice so that plans are consistent, achievable, and focused on preparing for adulthood.
• Strategic Development - Embeds social care within the SEND system, supports workforce development, and contributes to inspection readiness.
• Collaboration - Works with families, professionals, and regional networks to improve outcomes for children and young people with SEND .

How the DSCO Can Help

• For Families
  • Makes sure social care is properly considered in your child’s Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan
  • Ensures support is joined‑up so you don’t have to repeat your story to different services
  • Focuses on outcomes that matter for preparing your child for adulthood
  • Works with schools, health services, and social care teams so the right help is in place at the right time

• For Professionals and services
  • Provides training and guidance to SEND teams
  • Contributes to the Local Offer and inclusion toolkit
  • Helps services prepare for inspections and improve practice
  • Links Cheshire East into regional DSCO networks to share best practice
  • Guidance on identifying needs early and linking to the right pathways
  • Support with complex cases and queries
  • Signposting to appropriate services and professionals
  • Support with complaints, mediation, and tribunal processes where social care is relevant

• At Strategic Level
  • Oversight of social care responsibilities in SEND
  • Contribution to service design and development
  • Preparation for Ofsted and CQC SEND inspections
  • Workforce development to build skills and confidence
  • Engagement with regional DSCO networks to share best practice

Designated Social Care Officer for Cheshire East

If you would like help and support on a  SEND social care matter and don’t have a worker from social care already supporting you, email louisa.joyce@cheshireeast.gov.uk or call 01625 374909.