The Designated Clinical Officer (DCO) has a key role to support joined-up working between health services and local authorities and to implement the Children and Families Act reforms. The DCO should help facilitate the Education Health and Care Plan (EHC Plan) process and link it with the local health systems.

The purpose of the DCO role is to have:

Oversight

across all health professionals delivering healthcare to disabled children, young people, and those with special educational needs.

Coordination

to ensure:

• All health services are reflected in the Local Offer and that health providers are cooperating with the local authority in the review of the Local Offer
• A clear process for mediation arrangements regarding the health element of EHC plans
• Coordination of EHC assessments with other key health assessments, for example, Children and Young People’s Continuing Care assessment, Looked-after Children’s Health Assessment

Strategic contribution to the development of:

• A joint commissioning strategy that works towards the integration of services to improve outcomes
• A participation and engagement strategy with children and young people with SEN and disability and their families

You can find out more about the DCO role by emailing them.