This collection of case studies is part of a series highlighting the ways in which IAS programme funding to Information Advice and Support Services has enhanced and improved the service user experience of the local service offer.
The stories may be used as a guide for implementing similar methods in other IAS services, where this is appropriate and useful.
Key common themes are:
- Increasing numbers of service users are now able to access high quality and responsive IAS support, including increased support for more complex casework. This has been enabled by services expanding their staff capacity and developing volunteer programmes and year round provision, thereby allowing increased work with service users
- Increased numbers of children and young people are receiving direct support from IAS services through the employment of dedicated CYP caseworkers
- Traditionally hard-to-reach groups are benefitting from targeted work from IAS services in order to increase awareness and engagement amongst these groups
- Increased knowledge, confidence and understanding being imparted to service users through the provision of training and workshops on a range of key issues and subjects
- Service users are able to access information, advice and support and an expanded range of resources through an increased variety of routes. This has been enabled by IAS services developing standalone websites, growing their use of social media platforms and redesigning their informational resources
- More effective support to service users is being enabled by increased cohesive working between IAS services and other organisations and services, including early years providers, looked after children’s services, virtual schools, inclusion teams and CYP mental health services
The learning examples listed below are published with permission of the service manager in question.
North West
- Blackpool: Improving service visibility and the confidence of its users
- Cheshire East: Making each contact count
- Cheshire and West Cheshire: A strategic view of how service users are benefiting from IASP funded work
- Liverpool and Knowsley: SENDIASS support with exclusions
- Liverpool and Knowsley: Our story so far..
- Manchester: Increasing the SEN training offer to improve service engagement with diverse groups
- Worcestershire: SENDIASS direct work with young people
Yorkshire and Humber
- Bradford: Professionals and Parents benefiting from training workshops with the SENDIASS team
- Calderdale and Kirklees: Building on our offer
- Calderdale and Kirklees: SENDIASS direct work with young people
- Hull: Improving our offer, increasing impact
- Leeds: Development of a volunteering scheme, service steering group and advice drop-in sessions
South West
- Bath and North East Somerset: Making better connections with our customers
- Devon: Parent trainer enhances IASS training offer
London
- Bexley: Relaunching our local statutary service
- Bracknell Forest: Reviewing our IAS Service and planning for the future
- Bromley: Supporting children and young people – an exciting challenge for IASS
- Enfield: Laying the foundations for a positive, secure and thriving IASS for the future
- Hackney: Reflections on service improvements
- Hammersmith: SENDIASS direct work with young people
- Haringey: Benefits of designated children and young people case workers
- Hillingdon: SENDIASS support with exclusions
- Hounslow: SENDIASS support with mediation
- Waltham Forest: Redesign services to meet the demand
East of England
- Bedford: Increasing our targeted work with vulnerable groups of CYP with SEND
- Suffolk: Supporting ethnic minorities and English as an Additional Language (EAL) within the county
South East
- Brighton and Hove: Big picture and little adjustments: how we get children and young people to use our service
- Buckinghamshire: SENDIASS support with transport issues
- East Sussex: Beyond the helpline: workshops, events and outreach
- Milton Keynes: SENDIASS support obtaining an appropriate educational placement
- Reading: SENDIASS support obtaining appropriate educational placement and resulting in IAS service improvements
- Slough: SENDIASS – example of good service practice
- Wokingham: SENDIASS support with exclusions
West Midlands
- Solihull: Strengthening service delivery and service engagement with young people
- Staffordshire: Developing a sustainable IAS Service offer fit for the future
- Staffordshire: Service route to better engagement
- Wolverhampton: SENDIASS support with an EHCP-related appeal
East Midlands
- Leicester: Service compliance and beyond
- North Lincolnshire: Increasing the service engagement with young people
North East