How We Work
Who we are
Hartlepool Special Educational Needs and Disabilities information, advice and support service (SENDIASS) provides free confidential, impartial support and advice to Children, Young People (aged 0 – 25 years) and their Parent/Carers, about matters related to their or their child’s Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND), including matters relating to health and social care.
Our obligations are set out within The Children and Families Act 2014, Chapter 2 of the SEND Code of Practice 2015 and The Council for Disabled Children (CDC) – National Minimum Standards 2018.
We are a self-referral, in-house statutory service which is funded by Hartlepool Borough Council (HBC), situated within the Children’s and Joint Commissioning Directorate.
We are here to
- Support Children and Young People who have or may have special educational needs.
- Offer free impartial advice and information to Parents/Carers, Children and Young People.
- Recognise the importance of Parents/Carers, Children and Young People’s ‘voice’ and ‘views; to be at the centre of SEND processes.
- Help Parents/Carers, Children and Young People, Local Authority, Schools, Health, Social Care and professionals to work together to meet the needs of Children and Young People.
Our aim is
- To provide a service that can meet local demand and ensure that it is accessible for all Children, Young People, and Parents/Carers.
- Increase Children, Young People, Parents/Carers and Professionals’ knowledge of SEND guidance and legislation.
- Allow Children, Young People, Parents/Carers and Professionals to access appropriate information and virtual support and training in respect of SEND guidance and legislation.
- Provide information to children, young people, parents/carers and professionals about the public, private, voluntary and community sectors to improve accessibility to appropriate advice and support.
How do we operate?
Referrals are made directly by a Parent/Carer, or Child/Young Person themselves. Referrals are made via a dedicated telephone line, email or virtual/face-to face interactions at a range of drop-ins, events and training sessions.
We don’t take sides; we provide Parents/Carers, Children and Young People with impartial factual information and advice, based on SEND guidance and legislation, so they feel empowered and enabled to make informed decisions about their next steps, which is unbiased and is not influenced by any particular party’s point of view or local policy.
We will not discuss Parents/Carers, Children and Young People’s circumstances or information with anyone without their verbal or written consent.
We offer Parents/Carers, Children and Young People information on an extensive range of topics in relation to Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), including Health and Social Care.
We enable Parents/Carers, Children and Young People to understand and make effective use of the information and advice provided.
We provide a free, all-year-round and flexible service which is open during normal office hours and includes:
- A direct helpline with 24-hour answer machine,
- A call back and sign-posting service, including links to the national SEND helpline and other sources of support for outside of office hours and 24/7 access to dedicated website.
The service must legally operate arm’s length from HBC Education and Social Care Services, as well as Health services such as the Integrated Commissioning Board (ICB).
The service maintains an ‘arm’s length’ position by:
- Being measured against The Children and Families Act 2014, The SEND Code of Practice 2015, and The Council for Disabled Children (CDC) National Minimum Standards 2018, rather than locally agreed parameters.
- Having a ring fenced delegated budget and protected recording system restricted to members of SENDIASS only.
- Keeping secure all information specifically communicated (either orally or in writing) by Parents/Carers, Children and Young People which is completely separate to LA’s Education, Health and Social Care services.
- Having and maintaining its own service website.
- Ensuring that service staff are nationally provided training, which ensures that they have the knowledge and understanding of SEND law and guidance.
- Having working links and networks both nationally and regionally, which is not to the LA.
- Service staff do not take part in any LA local decision making processes.
- Impartiality being a core element of staff training and reflective practice.
Our work
Our work involves using the following intervention levels below, set by the Council for Disabled Children (CDC). This helps us to monitor the complexity of casework and the level of support needed, as it can vary greatly. This ensures the information, advice and support that you receive is provided at the right time.
General Information and Signposting.
- Clarification of SENDIASS’ remit and SEND Law.
- Signposting to services/groups, Local Offer and relevant resources/websites.
Information tailored to specific circumstances and advice around options and processes.
- Some casework and advocacy is required.
- Help with communicating with School/LA/Services.
- Navigating the EHCNA/EHCP process.
- Understanding SEND Law and documentation.
To go through processes, advocacy and representation.
- Complex and ongoing casework/advocacy.
- Assistance in overcoming serious breakdown in communications with School/LA/other services.
- Assistance in overcoming breaches of SEND Law.
- Assistance with complaints procedures.
- Requiring intensive support due to personal circumstances (e.g. low literacy levels, learning or sensory difficulties, or English as an additional language).
- Representation at/for a series of School/Professional Meetings and EHCP/Annual Review Multi-Agency meetings.
- SENDIASS undertaking key working roles with other agencies.
To go through processes, advocacy and representation.
- Preparation and/or representation with Mediation and First Tier (SEND) Tribunal (including Disability discrimination).
- Preparation and/or representation with complaints to First Tier (SEND) Tribunal, Ombudsman, Judicial Review, or relevant services.
Our service offer to Parents/Carers, Children or Young People
- Accept referrals from Parents/Carers, Children and Young People and provide telephone, email, virtual and face-to face information, advice and support, which is factual and unbiased. This is based only on relevant SEND legislation and national guidance, so individuals feel empowered and enabled to make informed decisions and able to apply it to their own situation. We work with new referrals and don’t re-address an enquiry where advice has already been given.
- Provide Parents/Carers, Children and Young People with someone impartial to talk to in confidence to help them understand the child/young person’s legal rights in relation to SEND, to listen to any views and concerns they might have and advise on overcoming issues in relation to SEND Law.
- Provide Parents/Carers, Children and Young People with a straightforward explanation of educational procedures. We don’t offer to automatically complete forms or check EHCP’s for errors unless we have been asked about a particular section we are supporting Parents/Carers, Children or Young People with.
- Help Parents/Carers, Children and Young People to express their views and advocate for change to help influence and shape policies and procedures.
- Meet with Parents/Carers, Children and Young People virtually/in person and attend meetings with them relating to their Child or Young person’s educational support when appropriate and required.
- Support, problem solve and resolve issues with Parents/Carers, Children and Young People with a wide range of issues related to SEND including (but not limited to) needs not being met, supporting communication and trust with services, SEN support (known as a graduated approach), assessment of need, Education, Health and Care Plans, provision at risk of breaking down, supporting appropriate challenge, complaints, exclusions, mediation, appeals, tribunals and advice around legislation. We don’t make decisions for Parents/Carers, Children or Young People or on their behalf or attend meetings in their absence.
- Signposting and providing information about what support is available (the Local Offer, Voluntary and National Organisations).
- Provide representation at local and regional meetings for IASS, Education, Health and Social Care when appropriate and required.
- Endeavour to respond to all queries in a timely manner.
Our service offer to Professionals
Our service covers all aspects of special educational needs and disabilities related areas, from promoting inclusion and reasonable adjustments, navigating and understanding SEND processes and SEND law, supporting with education, social care and health concerns (where SEND may or has been identified), signposting to other services, supporting with disagreement resolution and so forth.
Professionals can
- Use our service to learn about our function as ‘SENDIASS’, and the information, advice and support service that we offer.
- Get advice from us without discussing individuals, as well as use the information we offer to build on their own knowledge and understanding.
- Work with us by signposting Parents/Carers, Children and Young People in need to SENDIASS and encouraging them to visit our website, where they can find resources and contact information.
- Help us provide effective information, advice and support to Parents/Carers, Children and Young People by being clear about any additional support needs that individuals may have. This will mean that we are able to make adjustments in how we make information available. For example, those that may need shorter meetings or simplified information.
- Contact us for training and information sessions on SEND e.g. navigating and understanding SEN support from early years to post-19, reasonable adjustments, ways of accessing services to support education, and signposting to other services, Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment (EHCNA) process, Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) and Annual Reviews, SEND Law, disagreement resolution – complaints, exclusions, appeals and tribunals.
- Work in partnership with us to support children and young people with special educational needs, and their parent/carers, in enabling children and young people with SEND to reach their best possible outcomes in life.
Still need access to further support?
If you are looking for further information, advice and support, please complete our contact form and we’ll be able to help and point you in the right direction.
