The SENDIASS is for:

• Parents/carers of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities and Young people with special educational needs, disabilities and professionals.

The role of SENDIASS in Manchester is to:

• Enable parents/carers to become effective partners in their child’s education through the provision of impartial information, advice and support

• Offer impartial information and advice about the child’s health and social care and where necessary, signpost parents/carers to other agencies for further advice and support;

• Enable parents/carers to make informed decisions about education, health and social care on behalf of and with their child;

• Enable parents/carers and young people to act for themselves and to feel confident in their ability to do so. The SENDIASS does not speak for parents/carers or young people but can help to put their views forward and does not act as a legal advocate or become directly involved in complaints. However, we can signpost and direct to complaints procedures and relevant templates.

• Provide impartial information and support to parents/carers through support for SEND Tribunals and explain how to access mediation services;

• Empower parents/carers and young people to access and find information for themselves through the Local Offer.

• Parents/carers and young people will normally contact the SENDIASS themselves.

• Referrals from other agencies and practitioners can only be accepted where a parent/carer or young person has specifically asked them to make a referral on their behalf. The parent/YP must give written consent if a third party is referring.

• The SENDIASS will only speak to other people about any issues raised with the permission of the parents/YP and only if needed to determine and clarify facts. The intention is to provide parents/carers and young people with more informed opportunities, choices and options in relation to education, health and social care.

• There are no minimum or maximum time limits for advising families, but the service will always seek to conclude advice/support at the earliest opportunity.

• Parent/YP can self-refer to the service again should they have a new query.

• The service will also request information on how well we supported/advised but this survey is voluntary.