As a good Corporate Parent, all of us at SQA want care experienced people to fulfil their potential and, to support them, we are committed to considering their needs in everything we do. Importantly, SQA is in the enviable position of having a positive impact on their learning experience and this is something I’m really proud to be a part of.
Working in partnership
Care experienced young people face unique challenges which have the potential to negatively impact their learning. To ensure that our support is relevant and meaningful, we listen to the views of care experienced young people, and work in close partnership with organisations who represent their views, including Who Cares? Scotland and MCR Pathways.
We’ve had the opportunity to contribute to Young People’s Champions Boards. These local authority-run meetings provide a platform for those with experience of care to help shape the future of local care services.
Internally, our Corporate Parenting Steering Group provides a forum for discussion and information sharing, ensuring that as an organisation we are implementing the commitments made in our Corporate Parenting Plan.
Supporting learning
Working collaboratively with young people led to improvements in our replacement certificate service. We appreciate young people in care can experience different placements. Following feedback, changes to the service ensures that those with experience of care can quickly and easily have a replacement certificate posted to them, free of charge.
The disruption that can be caused by movement between placements is also why we continue to offer the return of coursework (for example, artwork) without charge for any care experienced learner.
The interests of people with experience of care are reflected in our assessment arrangements process. This is in place to ensure equality and fairness in the undertaking of our qualifications and assessments.
Supporting career pathways
Our responsibility as a Corporate Parent does not end when a young person leaves school. We continue to support them as they either progress on their learning journey or embark on a career.
As a prominent organisation in the framework of support for young people, it is important that SQA continues to deliver opportunities for young people to be part of the workforce and help level the playing field for them to gain sustainable employment.
Our Young Talent Strategy creates opportunities for SQA to source, recruit, develop and retain young talent to support the Scottish Governments Young Persons Guarantee initiative, and to provide work experience to prepare young people for the world and support Scotland’s economic recovery following the impact of COVID 19.
Celebrating success
Throughout the year, colleagues across SQA embrace opportunities to show their support for care experienced people.
Alongside Who Cares? Scotland and MCR Pathways we have hosted Results Day celebration events and shared congratulatory videos to mark the progress and achievements of care experienced learners.
SQA colleagues support Care Experienced Week and are delighted to attend the Love Rally. It’s something we’ve been taking part in for a number of years. As a proud Corporate Parent we want to show our commitment to achieving a lifetime of love for care experienced people across Scotland. We’re looking forward to attending the Love Rally on Sunday 29 October.
Even more, SQA staff have enjoyed fundraising for Who Cares? Scotland by taking part in the annual Kiltwalk and joining them in writing Christmas cards to send to hundreds of care experienced people across the country.
Looking to the future
Whilst looking back on the progress we have made is important, we are always keen to identify where we can better support people with care experience.
An important part of developing our Corporate Parenting Plan is listening to care experienced people, collaborating with partners, other corporate parents and organisations across Scotland.
We recently published our draft Corporate Parenting Plan 2023–26 consultation on our website and encouraged participation and response through social media and direct mailing lists. Work is now underway to review the feedback we have received and to ensure this is reflected in our final Corporate Parenting Plan 2023–26 and action plan, to be published in December 2023.
We look forward to continuing to work in partnership to improve the life chances of Scotland’s care experienced community.
Care Experienced Week 2023 takes place from 22-29 October. Visit the Who Cares? Scotland website to find out how you can get involved. You can find out more about SQA’s role as a corporate parent on our main website.
