
The role of an IASS, is to ensure that children and young people with SEND and their parents are enabled to recognise their rights and take part in decisions that affect themselves or their child/young person. (Section 19, Children and Families Act)
The information, advice and support provided “should be impartial and provided at arm’s length from the local authority and Clinical Commissioning Groups” (SEND Code of Practice 2015 2.8).
All IASS are expected to meet certain minimum standards, developed by the Council for Disabled Children and IASS services alongside the Department of Education (DfE), and based on the SEND Code of Practice.
All references to “parents” throughout this policy includes "parents and carers".
"Demonstrating impartiality - the Parent Partnership Practice Guide” (Stone 2004.20) states that an impartial stance is demonstrated by:
York SENDIASS caseworkers will use this guidance on supporting casework, with a clear emphasis on enabling those they are supporting to make informed decisions. This will be done by presenting factual information and advice grounded in legislation and the SEND Code of Practice 2015.
York SENDIASS is an “in house” service. This means that the service is funded by City of York Council, the local authority, and staff are local authority employees.
It is understood that in order for the service to be seen as independent, neutral and impartial, it must operate at “arm’s length” from the local authority. The local authority recognises and respects this position. York SENDIASS maintains an "arm’s length” position in the following ways:
SENDIASS Staff:
York SENDIASS Staff and volunteers:
York SENDIASS has its own identity, including service and headed notepaper which takes precedence over other identities.
The service has responsibility for the content and maintenance of its own web pages, it includes relevant internal and external links and downloads.
Publications routinely include references and recommendations for further reading.
York SENDIASS staff and volunteers providing advice have access to nationally provided training, which ensures they have a sound knowledge and understanding of SEND law and guidance, as well as local policy and practice.
Information sessions and training provided by IASS will include a range of providers and organisations to ensure impartial delivery.
The IASS Steering Group has representation from a number of agencies and professionals and includes parents who have been involved with service and who are well placed to provide a parental perspective on the effectiveness and impartiality of the service activity.
Steering Group meetings are chaired by a parent member.
The Steering Group has Terms of Reference which include monitoring the effectiveness and impartiality of all service delivery.
On initial contact the impartiality statement will be verbally shared with parents, children or young people either over the phone or face to face, IASS literature states the impartial nature of the service.
A copy of the Impartially Policy will be published on the service website and copies of the Policy will be made available to service users when requested.
Every effort will be made to publicise the impartial role of the IASS to other service and organisations.
Existing and new staff and volunteers will be introduced to the policy through induction and training and it is expected that all staff will adhere to the principles of the impartiality outlined in the policy.
Day-to-day monitoring of the policy will be undertaken by the Service Manager.
Feedback from service users will act as a reflection of service satisfaction.
Members of the Steering Group will periodically be asked to monitor the impartiality of the information developed and provided by the service.
This policy will be reviewed annually by the York SENDIASS Steering Group. Any Amendments should be agreed and recorded in the minutes of the meeting.