Darlington SEND Information, Advice and Support Service Policy

Aim

To make sure that parents and carers of children with additional needs and young people receive independent information, advice and support and are helped to both avoid or resolve disagreements with providers of services and given the opportunity to influence the development of services, which will affect them.

Processes and Procedures

Confidential “arms-length” service

•	The service is based within Darlington Borough Council, providing access to the SEN Inclusion Team, Admissions, Advisory Teachers etc. This placement provides opportunities for support, discussion and an opportunity to influence local authority policies and procedures.

•	The service has chosen to opt out of the local authority EMS system in order to protect the identification of any involvement with individuals by the service. IASS does have access to the EMS system should parents ask us to look at relevant documents such as statements.

•	A separate record of involvement and case notes will be kept by the service that is not accessible by other users. These records belong to the parents and not to the LA.

•	Cases are confidential and will only be discussed with the LA, school or other agencies with the agreement of the parent/carer. The only exception to confidentiality is in regard to information, which may lead us to believe a child was a risk; there is a legal obligation to pass on concerns regarding child protection.

Provision of information

•	The SEND Adviser and Independent Parental Supporters are used to providing impartial advice and support to parents. There are webpages within the local authority website providing a variety of information most of which is downloadable from the site. Information is available in a variety of community languages upon request, and is also available in other formats. There is a service leaflet, leaflet pack and a wide range of information sheets which are always being added to and updated.  

Influence on services

•	Regular one to one meetings with Line Management take place in order to discuss new legislation and government guidance and to influence decisions.

Direct support to parents and children/young people

•	The service assists parents to put their views and their child’s views, and also the views of young people, in writing for co-ordinated assessments to ensure that they are represented in the process.

•	The service offers a mediation service in cases where there is disagreement between parents/carers and schools or the local authority.

•	Individual cases are referred by recommendation, written notification in correspondence, through service information leaflets and the website, information by schools, parents, People’s Department, Health Service, charities etc.

•	Other support offered depends on parental need.  Examples are:  to attend a meeting or annual review with parents, provide information and signposting, explain the co-ordinated assessment procedure, multi-agency working, visit schools with parents, organise training events for parents. 

Support to schools, settings and other agencies

•	The service also supports settings in offering advice and support in relation to the Equalities Act, exclusions, panel procedures, how to access support and information about how the service can support their parents and young people.

Monitoring and Evaluation

•	Anonymised data collection and evaluation of the service is carried out to ensure that users are happy with the service they received and to give them an opportunity to suggest ways of improving the service for future users.

Information, Advice and Support Service
North Lodge,
Gladstone Street
Darlington
DL3 6JX

Tel: 01325 405878

Email: iass@darlington.gov.uk 

Updated June 2018