RIASS Redbridge
RIASS provides information, advice and support to children and young people and their parent and carers who reside within the London Borough of Redbridge or that London Borough of Redbridge have a legal responsibility too.
RIASS is an impartial service and the information, advice and support is based firmly within the law and SEND Code of Practice and other relevant Acts and/or local authorities and schools practices and procedures.
We do not give priority to any impairment, disability, or special educational need, nor do we campaign for any approach to education.
RIASS provides the information, advice, and support in a variety of ways as stated in the Minimum Standards for SEND Information, Advice and Support Services and implements an Empowerment Model which enables children and young people (CYP) and their parents and carers to make their own decisions to achieve the best possible education and other outcomes needed.
The Code of Practice says that support should be available but also calls for services to “promote independence and self-advocacy for children, young people and parent/carers” Where RIASS is aware of the importance of delivering support to those who may require this, the ethos is to provide information and advice above support.
RIASS is not a long-term support service. We provide information, advice, and support on the current situation of the referral. There is no limit on the returning to the service if further information, advice, and support is required and no limit on the number of areas of concern.
What do we mean by Advice?
|
Information |
Everything children, young people, parent/carers can access without contacting the service |
Website and social media Local Offer |
| Advice | Help children, young people, parent/carers apply information to their own situation so that they can make an informed decision and act themselves |
Triage Website Tribunal Packs Information and training sessions Advice from an advisor via email or phone call |
| Support | Helping customers to act | Advisor appointment or attendance |
RIASS has 3 days to respond to your referral and therefore as soon after the information, advice and support will be provided thereafter.
RIASS does not follow up once the information, advice and support is provided. This is left with the decision of the referrer to decide if they require further information, advice, and support. The service does not have access to education, health or local authority records and it would be left for the referrer to provide these to the service.
As impartial service, RIASS can not arrange meetings with other professionals.
RIASS will:
Face-to-face support
RIASS will provide the information, advice, and support with face-to-face meetings to the following:
1. Parents may have additional needs of their own
2. Parents require support to write their contribution to the EHCP assessment.
3. Annual Review meetings may face the below:
4. Other situations that are determined by and at the discretion of RIASS.
For all the above reasonings, a face-to-face meeting will be conducted online and only in exceptional circumstances will be in person
RIASS staff will be required to log the circumstances relating to such situations and should be prepared to justify their decision to the Steering Group.
Home visits
Will only be carried out if:
1. The parent is housebound either due to:
2. There is no other suitable alternative or accessible place to meet e.g. school, LBR building, coffee shop etc.
3. An online meeting would not be appropriate of the situation.
Tribunal Attendance
RIASS are not legally qualified so we cannot act as your legal representative in hearings, but we can assist you to prepare for your hearing and support you to put forward your views and wishes during the hearing. In situations where parents/young people choose to pay for private SEN legal / SEN advocacy support, it is RIASS policy that we will withdraw from your case, to avoid conflicting advice being given and so that we can prioritise parents and young people who most need our support.
RIASS can represent a young person or parent at a hearing and assist in the presentation of their case in accordance with rule 11(5) of The Tribunal Procedure (First-Tier Tribunal) (Health, Education and Social Care Chamber) Rules 2008, as amended.
RIASS staff will be required to log circumstances relating to such situation and should be prepared to justify their decision to the steering Group
Please refer to RIASS Tribunal Policy and Procedure for further information
The purpose of this is not to be obstructive or make life more difficult for parents but to improve efficiency of RIASS' time and reduce the potential risks associated with lone working.