Darlington SEND Information, Advice and Support Service
Supporting families of disabled children and children with Special Educational Needs

Independent Parental Supporters	

Job Description	

Purpose/Role:	To support parents as equal partners in the identification and assessment of children with special educational needs/additional needs.	
		
Job/Location:	Home/Assigned to local schools	
		
Commitment:	•	To give commitment to the work of the Information, Advice and Support Service and the Service Standards
•	To attend at least 2 training/support group meetings each year
•	To maintain and keep comprehensive case logs
•	To undertake an induction programme with the option of shadowing or mentoring	
		
Duties:	Empowering parents by:
•	offering support and information
•	ensuring knowledge of rights and responsibilities
•	helping to fill in forms/write letters
•	helping to prepare for, and possible accompany to, meetings
•	helping parents to liaise with professionals from all agencies
•	directing parents to other sources of information.	
		
Expectations:	Request a debriefing from the Information, Advice and Support Service after a difficult meeting or situation	
		
	Self evaluate input after each intervention with parents 	
		
	Acknowledge training needs and gaps in knowledge and request support	
		
Personal Specification:	•	Good listening/communication skills
•	Good interpersonal skills
•	Good liaison skills
•	Flexibility and motivation
•	Reliability/Empathy/Patience
•	Understanding the need for confidentiality
•	Commitment to developing positive relationships 
      between parents, schools and the LEA	

Independent Parental Supporters should be fully informed about local national policies and procedures around Special Educational Needs and disabilities and feel confident to work with parents
in a variety of different situations (Code of Practice 2001)
*(parents includes all those adults with parental responsibility).	

Darlington Information, Advice and Support Service
North Lodge, Gladstone Street, Darlington, DL3 6JX
01325 405878
iass@darlington.gov.uk