SENDIASS
SENDIASS operates under the policies and procedures of Barnardo’s, in line with National IASS guidance and following local safeguarding protocols. For more information, please see links below to some of our key policies. If you would like more information about a policy or cannot find what you are looking for, please contact your local SENDIASS and we would be happy to help.
Read the below or download a copy of the Minimum standards for SENDIAS services:
Minimum Standards for SENDIAS services
Information Advice and Support Services (IASS) provide free impartial, confidential, and accurate information, advice, and support about education, health, and social care for children, young people, and their parents on matters relating to special educational needs and disability. The provision of information, advice, and support should help to promote independence and self-advocacy for children, young people, and parents. Chapter 2 of the SEND Code of Practice sets out the role and activities of an IASS and should be read alongside these standards.
These minimum standards are based on the requirements relating to support that Information, Advice and Support Services must provide, as set out in the Children and Families Act (CFA) 2014, the SEND Code of Practice and on additional legal advice commissioned by the Information, Advice, and Support Service Network. A glossary and further guidance, including links to law and guidance, will be available shortly.
1. Commissioning, governance and management arrangements
1.1 The IASS is jointly commissioned by education, health, and social care in accordance with the CFA 2014. A formal agreement is set out in writing which refers directly to these Minimum Standards, whilst also considering the need for continuity and stability of the service.
1.2 The IASS is designed and commissioned with children, young people and parents, and has the capacity and resources to meet these Minimum Standards and local need. For smaller local authorities (LAs) this may involve commissioning across local areas.
1.3 The IASS provides an all-year-round flexible service which is open during normal office hours and includes a direct helpline with 24-hour answer machine, call back and signposting service, including linking to the national SEND helpline.
1.4 There is a dedicated and ring-fenced budget held and managed by an IAS service manager located within an IASS.
1.5 The IASS is, and is seen by service users to be, an arm’s length, confidential, dedicated, and easily identifiable service, separate from the LA, Clinical Commissioning Group and/or host organisation.
1.6 LA and IASS ensure that potential service users, Head teachers, FE principals, SENCOs, SEND Teams, children’s and adult social care, health commissioners, and providers are made aware of the IASS, its remit and who the service is for.
1.7 The Governance arrangements outline a clear management structure, encompassing a strategic manager within the IASS and a steering group or advisory body which includes representatives from service user groups and key stakeholders from education, social care, and health.
1.8 The IASS has a development plan reviewed annually with the steering group/advisory body, which includes specific actions and improvement targets.
2. Strategic functions
2.1 Each IASS has a manager based solely within the service, without additional LA/CCG or host body roles. They have responsibility for strategic planning, service management and delivery, and quality assurance.
2.2 The IASS engages with regional and national strategic planning and training and demonstrates effective working with other IASSs to inform service development.
2.3 The IASS works with local partners, including local parent and young people forums to inform and influence policy and practice in the local area.
3. Operational functions
3.1 The IASS provides: impartial information, advice, and support (IAS) on the full range of education, health, and social care as defined in the SEND Code of Practice to the following service users – a) children b) young people c) parents This support is offered in a range of ways which includes face-to-face, a telephone helpline, email, website, and social media.
3.2 The IASS provides branded information and promotional materials in a range of accessible formats.
3.3 The IASS has a stand-alone service website that is accessible to all service users. The website includes:
3.4 The IASS provides advocacy support for individual children, young people, and parents that empowers them to express their views and wishes and helps them to understand and exercise their rights in matters including exclusion, complaints, SEND processes, and SEND appeals.
3.5 The IASS provides information, advice, and support before, during, and following a SEND Tribunal appeal in a range of different ways, dependent on the needs of the parent or young person. This will include representation during the hearing if the parent or young person is unable to do so.
3.6 The IASS offers training to local education, health, and social care professionals, children, young people, and parents to increase knowledge of SEND law, guidance, local policy, issues, and participation.
4. Professional development and training for staff
4.1 All advice and support providing staff successfully complete all online IPSEA legal training levels within 12 months of joining the service. Volunteers who provide advice and support should complete IPSEAs Level 1 online training within 12 months.
4.2 The service routinely requests feedback from service users and others and uses this to further develop the work and practices of the service.
4.3 All IASS staff and volunteers have ongoing supervision and continuous professional development.
If you have any comments or questions about these standards or about IASS please email iassn@ncb.org.uk
As part of the Children and Families Act 2014 it is a legal requirement that all local authorities ensure disabled children and young people and children and young people with special educational needs and their parents have access to an impartial Information, Advice and Support (IAS) service. If you need information, advice, or support, or you are a professional wanting to refer a parent or carer for information, advice, or support, you must contact the SENDIAS service for your local authority. Click here to find your local SENDIAS Service: Find your local IAS service
Barnardo’s respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal data and being transparent about how we collect and use your data. We will comply with any data protection legislation currently in force. Our Privacy Notice, available on our website at https://www.barnardos.org.uk/privacy-notice. It explains how we use any personal information that you provide or which is provided to us by third parties.
Each Barnardo’s SENDIASS has its own information about how we protect your personal data and can be found on the local SENDIASS pages.