Our Independent Volunteer Supporters Understanding
what they do
An Independent Volunteer Supporter (IVS) is someone who is able to support children and young people and/or their parents or carers, with issues around Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND).
Our IVS will:
be someone that you can trust and rely on respect your confidence and privacy listen and help decide what they want rather than tell them what to do understand the education system be good at making themselves understood not have a clash of interests
They are independent of decision making professionals This means that they have no conflict of interest, which could be seen as influencing their ability to give impartial information or advice when they are providing support.
IVS are trained to be fully informed about local and national policies and procedures around SEND This helps them to feel confident when working with children and young people, and their parents or carers, in a variety of ways and in different situations. They also have good communication skills and the ability to listen.
www.bromleyiass.org.uk
Call us on 020 8461 7630 or visit
What our IVS can do
Listen to you
Listen to any concerns you may have
Provide emotional support and encouragement
Recognise and maintain confidentiality
Ensure that you understand how the Special Needs Code of Practice works in schools
Accompany and inform you on visits to schools
Support you to act in partnership with schools and colleges
Support you in meetings - and you may request an IVS to ask questions, seek clarification and afterwards talk with them about what was discussed
Encourage you to be confident in you views
Encourage you to seek clarification on points and issues raised
Give accurate information about the statutory assessment procedure
Help you to prepare your contribution for the statutory assessment
Ensure that you understand the content of information received from the Council
Help you in you negotiations with the Council
Discuss a draft Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan with you and help you with your response
Help you to write letters and complete forms if appropriate
Encourage you to understand it is important to help you to express your views
Talk through procedures, choices and the implication of choices
Provide you with information on your rights and responsibilities, the law and local practice and procedures
Attend annual reviews or other school meetings with you
Inform you of contacts who could give appropriate support, advice and information
Call us on 020 8461 7630 or visit www.bromleyiass.org.uk
Call us on 020 8461 7630 or visit www.bromleyiass.org.uk February 2021 Crafted by Burning Leaf Creatives Get in touch with us Email us on iass@bromley.gov.uk or choiceservice@bromley gov uk for our Choice Service Alternatively, you can text us on 07834 106 347 Monday to Friday 9 30am - 1pm and 2pm - 4pm How we support our IVS Providing regular supervision meetings to discuss caseloads and help identify development needs
training opportunities on a continuing basis
opportunities for IVS to meet each other for mutual support We support our IVS by:
Providing
Providing