The Information, Advice and Support Service Network The Information, Advice and Support Services (IASS) Network provides training and support to Information, Advice and Support (IAS) services to enable them to provide accurate IAS to children, young people and their parents on education, health and social care matters relating to their special educational needs and disabilities. The IASS Network is funded by the Department for Education (DfE).

What does a good SEND IASS look like?

C&F Act: Section 32 – Advice & Information Who must receive IAS On what? Parent of child/YP with SEN Matters relating to the child's SEN Parent of child/YP with a disability Matters relating the child disabilities Child with SEN Child with a disability Young person with SEN Matters relating to the young persons SEN Young person with a disability Matters relating to the young persons disabilities

Matters Relating to….. Education Health Social Care Setting based – Initial concerns, SEN Support, Care plans, medicines/treatment, exclusions, complaints EHCP’s - request for assessment, views, understanding, what goes where…, appeals Short Breaks Mental Health LD health checks

Provision of Impartial IAS - SEND Code of Practice Chapter 2 – Impartial Information, Advice and Support A dedicated and easily identifiable service; Built on pre existing Parent Partnership Service to create an Information, Advice and Support Service; Young people must be able to access IAS independently from their parents; Children must be able to access IAS independently from their parents; Should be impartial, confidential, arms length, free and accessible. Frequently poorly understood and resourced

Minimum Standards…

Are apparently too dull….. Minimum Standards Are apparently too dull…..

Where are they? Web page: https://councilfordisabledchildren.org.uk/information- advice-and-support-services- network/resources/minimum-standards-iass Min standards - https://councilfordisabledchildren.org.uk/sites/default/fil es/uploads/documents/Minimum%20StandardsFINAL%2 0with%20DfE%20DH%20logos_0.pdf   Easy read: https://councilfordisabledchildren.org.uk/sites/default/fil es/uploads/documents/Easy%20read%20Minimum%20S tandards%20final%20edit_0.pdf

1. Commissioning, governance and management arrangements (cont.) 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. 1.5 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, CCG and/or host organisation.

Minimum Standards 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.

Advocacy and IASS An advocate can: listen to your views and concerns help you explore your options and rights (without pressuring you) provide information to help you make informed decisions help you contact relevant people, or contact them on your behalf accompany you and support you in meetings or appointments.

Minimum Standards 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 YP is unable to do so.

South West Funding Local Authority Pop 0-25 IASS 17/18 £ FTE 18/19 Vols 18/19 Health Input £ per head (18/19) IASS % Diff 17/18 - 18/19 Bath & N.E Somerset 67,101 135,265 105,786 91,321 3.89 5 Y 1.36 68% Bournemouth 62,952 70,400 73,700 DNS   N/A Bristol 167,035 54,716 53,539 3.33 2 0.33 100% Cornwall (& Isle of Scilly) 156,643 55,196 11,537 85,667 2.60 1 0.55 155% Devon 216,113 225,000 335,000 293,000 6.40 15 130% Dorset 106,311 64,000 89,005 67,099 2.70 0.63 105% Gloucestershire 181,688 90,000 412,202 97,000 1.70 0.53 108% North Somerset 58,822 48,416 56,950 1.93 3 0.82 Plymouth 88,532 239,004 225,012 246,095 7.00 2.78 103% Poole 42,700 77,664 82,959 79,443 1.60 1.86 102% Somerset 153,188 169,500 169,100 107,800 4.88 0.70 64% South Gloucestershire 85,837 53,040 54,050 1.91 Swindon 68,293 66,300 73,000 63,000 0.92 95% Torbay 35,911 45,000 49,300 2.00 1.25 Wiltshire 143,910 62,578 58,465 59,209 1.80 0.41  Total/ Average 1,635,036 104,006 128,254 99,415 3.10 2.7 0.94

Funding Adequate resourcing is not all that’s needed to be good, but it is impossible to be good without it. Each IASS should have enough money and workers to do all the things in the minimum standards

What is an Information Advice and Support programme? Our aim is to seek IAS Service compliance and service improvements over time through contracting, training, strategic advice and support, governance & accountability A programme led by CDC but delivered in partnership Information, Advice and Support Network (IASSN) Contact helpline IPSEA Expertise of the Independent Support programme 20 million government investment over two years 139 IAS Services (out of 152) under contract to date in year 1

For further queries/discussion on the IASS Minimum Standards: Daisy Russell, IASP Practice & Policy Manager – drussell@ncb.org.uk & 07912556364