All local authorities must provide an information, advice and support service for:
- children and young people with Special Educational and Disabilities (SEND)
- parents and carers of children and young people with SEND (age 0 – 25 years)
The information, advice and support we provide is impartial. The guidance is provided at arm's length from Lincolnshire local authority and the Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board.
Our role ensures children and young people with SEND, and their parents and carers, know their rights, and can take part in decisions affecting themselves or their child or young person.
In Lincolnshire, Liaise provide this service. Liaise is an in-house service, funded by Lincolnshire County Council. Liaise maintains an arm's length position in the following ways:
- working to national minimum standards, rather than parameters agreed locally
- line management of our staff is separate from other teams making decisions about children and young people with SEND
- our staff do not take part in any local authority decision-making processes for children and young people. For example, decisions concerning EHC plans, although we support children, young people and parents to take part
- impartiality is a key element of staff training and reflective practice
Information and advice is impartial. We ensure this by:
- providing information leaflets on key aspects of SEND. The IASS network write the leaflets, and check for legality
- having a separate client record keeping system, only accessible to our team
- having nationally provided training. The training ensures our caseworkers have knowledge of:
- SEND law and guidance
- local policy and procedure
- signposting to other sources of advice, information and support that may be available
- occupying separate offices to LCC SEND teams
- maintaining our own website
- providing representation or advocacy where the child, young person or parent is unable to do this for themselves.
- not attending any meeting without the parent, carer or young person being present
To ensure inclusion in decision-making we provide:
- support to ensure the view of children, young people and their parents or carers can be heard
- individual casework and representation for those who need it
This may include:
- support with early disagreement resolution
- support in managing mediation, appeals to the first tier tribunal, exclusions and complaints
- support in accessing LCC's formal disagreement resolution services and on routes of appeal and complaint
We ensure the views of children, young people and their parents and carers are heard. We provide information, advice and support on rights under SEND Law and guidance and possible options.
We will:
- recognise a child's, young person's or parents' right to make their own decision. We will not make a judgement on that decision
- provide information, advice or support the CYP or parent needs to carry out their chosen decision
- support a child or young person independently of their parent or carer
- liaise with other teams and professionals as directed by CYP or parent, but will only express the views of CYP and parent
- share all information given by professionals with the CYP or parent
We will not:
- share any information with any other party without consent (unless there is a legal reason to do so)
- direct CYP or parents in a certain course of action
Policy review and updates
V1 - September 2017
V2 - March 2022
V3 - March 2024
