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Impartiality

Understanding Impartiality

For Parent Partnership Services (PPS), impartiality can be demonstrated by:

  • Reflecting the perspectives and wishes of parents
  • Being seen not to have a vested interest in the outcome of any discussions
  • Ensuring that staff and volunteers who attend decision-making meetings are clear about whether their role is:
    • to support or represent an individual family
    • to contribute to discussions on strategic issues
    • to participate in making decisions.

Other definitions include:

  • not partial, unprejudiced, fair
  • not favouring one person, etc more than another, fair and unbiased
  • showing lack of favouritism
  • free from undue bias or preconceived opinions
  • neutrality, independence and open-mindedness

Walsall PPS intends to be impartial in all its dealings, not favouring any person or party more than another, but striving to be fair and unbiased, whilst presenting factual information and guidance in order to bring about a resolution to the issues with which it is presented.

Relationship between PPS and Local Authority

All local authorities (LAs) in England have a statutory duty to ensure that a Parent Partnership Service (PPS) is provided. The Department for Children Schools and Families (DCSF) sets out in the Special Educational Needs (SEN) Code of Practice (COP) 2001 its expectations for the minimum standards to be met. To ensure parental confidence, the DCSF encourages LAs to ensure PPSs are run at arms length so that information and advice given to parents is impartial.

Parent Partnership Services (PPS) must ensure that local parents are provided with ‘accurate and neutral information on their rights, roles and responsibilities within the SEN process and on the wide range of options available to enable them to make informed decisions’ (SEN COP 2001 Par 2.21).

Walsall PPS is managed as an in-house but ‘arms-length’ service of the LA. The PPS is line managed by the Head of Prevention and Locality Services and is sufficiently independent of the LA to be impartial but has a close enough relationship to contribute to local policy and practice.

The PPS is intentionally not managed by the SEN team of the LA to avoid conflict of interests arising for LA officers and offers understanding of the needs of parents.

The PPS has a confidentiality policy which it shares with parents so as to assure them that information they disclose will not be passed to schools, the LA or any other person without their permission except in child protection issues. When statistical data is provided, for example to monitor and audit the service, this is anonymized so as to maintain confidentiality.

When parents disagree with LA policies, for example, inclusion, school placement or provision for children, PPS staff will give them accurate and neutral information and support about their entitlements and will also explain LA policies.

PPS Staff:

  • Do not act in isolation ‘on behalf of’ parents, for example in the way a solicitor would.
  • Support parents in reaching informed decisions but do not make decisions on their behalf.
  • Do not act as an advocate for parents or become directly involved in complaints procedures but will provide information about correct complaints procedures and protocols involved.
  • May put forward the wishes and views of parents either during meetings or telephone calls, while at the same time ascertaining the views of the professionals.
  • Will not support parents if they themselves hold positions associated with the school, for example governor or clerk to the governor. In these situations another member of staff will support the parents.
  • Will not assist parents personally known to them; another member of staff will support the parents.
  • Will signpost parents to other agencies for example, ACE and Network 81 to enable them to verify the impartiality of information and advice provided.
  • Should state their role at the beginning of meetings in order to clarify their position where possible and where circumstances allow.

PPS Management/Steering Group

The development of a PPS Steering Group is underway with the first meeting planned to take place in the autumn term 2008.

Location

It is important that parents’ perception of the PPS is of a service giving information and support that is independent of the LA. The PPS is based in the town centre and has its own offices separate to the LA including private meeting rooms in which to meet with parents. It is currently not fully accessible but plans are underway to address this over the next few months.

The PPS has its own database purposely designed for PPS activities which is separate from the LA. Paper records are stored away in locked cabinets to which only PPS staff have access. Information is only shared with professionals when parents have given consent except when there is a public interest to do so, for example, child protection.  

Staff Training and Supervision

All PPS staff receive training from independent providers as well as in-house providers in current and relevant national, regional and local education law, policy and practice including training on exclusions and SEN and Disability Tribunals. Staff use this knowledge to support and train parents.

All PPS staff receive supervision on a monthly basis during which support is provided to help them be aware of their own views so that they offer impartial information and support and that bias is minimised.

Independent Parental Supporters (IPSs)

The service supports the role of IPSs as this helps to ensure the information and advice given to parents is impartial.

The recruitment and training of IPSs is due to commence in the autumn term 2008. The PPS will ensure IPSs are adequately trained and supported to carry out their work with parents.

Working with Professionals

The role of the PPS is to empower parents by providing them with advice, guidance, and support which includes national legislation and its application through local policies. The PPS also helps parents to understand the pros and cons of any decisions they make. Staff may have parental consent to act as an intermediary between them and schools, LA and other professionals. This does not indicate bias in favour of the parents nor does it represent the views of PPS staff and volunteers. When staff take action it is in order to determine and clarify facts in order to better inform the parents about their child’s special educational needs.

Consultation

PPS staff attend the Parents Forum for parents/carers of children with SEN and SENCO Forum through which consultation may take place. Outcomes from this consultation can be used to inform and influence service delivery.

The PPS seeks feedback from service users (parents/carers) six months after initial contact by way of a written satisfaction survey. The results of which are discussed with staff and where necessary changes to service delivery are made.

Contact us

Walsall Parent Partnership Service
Children and Young People’s Services
Walsall Council
1st floor, 40 Darwall Street
Walsall
WS1 1DA

Telephone 01922 650330
Fax 01922 634093
Email parentpartnership@walsall.gov.uk