About Us

Due to capacity and the increasing number of referrals we are receiving, SEND IASS can offer you information, advice and support that will empower and enable you to move forward independently. The level of support we offer will be determined on a case by case  basis, with a view to supporting as many families as possible. 

 

SEND IASS may be able to attend an initial face to face meeting to support you with the school/LA or other agencies. The level of support we are able to offer may need to change to telephone/email support subject to our capacity. 

 

We can give you information on:

• The law on Special Educational Needs (SEN) and Disability, Health and Social Care where they link to education
• Local policy and practice
• Mediation and dispute resolution, Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal Service and complaints procedures
• The Local Offer

We can help by:  

• listening to your concerns and explaining what options are available
• explaining how education settings can support children and young people with special educational needs/a disability
• giving you information about what the law is and what your choices are, to help you make your own decisions.
• supporting you where capacity allows at meetings and helping you to get your views across
• finding voluntary groups and other agencies that can also support you, with the help of the Essex Local Offer
• guiding you through the Education, Health and Care Needs assessment process
• supporting you in discussions with education settings and the local authority where a child or young person is at risk of exclusion or has been excluded
• advise you on processes for resolving disagreements, appeals processes and means of redress
• working in partnership with schools and the local authority to develop positive relationships
• consulting parents, children and young people and ensuring your views influence the development of local policy
• and practice for children and young people with special educational needs/a disability.

We will not be able to:

• Contact other people on your behalf without your prior consent
• Pass your information on to other organisations without your agreement
• Make decisions on your behalf
• Provide reports regarding your child
• Offer advice or support on financial issues e.g. relating to benefits or allowances
• Deliver emergency support or interventions for service users
• Complete paperwork on behalf of service users. We use our discretion on support around form completion based on the individual needs of the service user on a case-by-case basis.
• Complete forms or support service users to complete forms that address issues not related to SEND.
• Automatically check EHCPs for service users unless there is an access need on the part of the service user or it is necessary as part of a process that we are supporting with
• Spend a disproportionate amount of time re-addressing an enquiry that has already been addressed by another member of the IAS team.
• Act as an intermediary between the service user and other professionals unless we are supporting a service user with their own access arrangements (disabilities, learning difficulties, health needs).

You can find out more about how we can help and  Complete a self-referral form

How to make a complaint about SENDIASS

If you are dissatisfied in any way with the service you have received from SENDIASS, we will do all we can to try to resolve your issues quickly. 

Most complaints can be resolved by talking to the person you normally deal with in the team, so please talk to them first if you can.

If they can't help or you would prefer to talk to someone else, please contact our SEND IASS Managers via our helpline: Email: SEND.IASS@essex.gov.uk

If the complaint cannot be resolved on an informal basis you can also make a formal complaint through the Essex County Council complaints procedure as Essex SEND IASS are an in-house service:  Essex County Council Compliments and Complaints