Digital

Article 3.1 of the IASSN Minimum Standards states that: The IASS provides impartial information, advice and support in a range of ways including social media.

This digital policy outlines how Westmorland and Furness SEND IAS Service uses the service website, social media accounts and our conduct at virtual meetings.

Website

  • Website URL it is important we present Westmorland and Furness SEND IAS Service separately and at ‘arms-length’ from our host organisation.  Our URL is separate to the LA’s domain.
  • What we do message reflecting what our service does - Impartial & confidential information, advice and support service for parent carers and children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.
  • Impartiality: Parents, practitioners and professionals must view the service as impartial via our website.  We ensure there is no display of bias towards, or influence by any particular organisation, party, point of view or policy, including local authorities, schools, education ideologies and campaigns.
  • Content added to our website, including:
    • Where possible, information will be up to date and relevant.
    • Information and content assisting the position of the service as a filter for intelligence in the sector and supportive of key stakeholders and partnerships, such as government, national and local, policy, legislation and activity.
    • Permitted content includes photographs and videos.
    • We will not share work-related information about service users due to the nature of our casework, data protection and confidentiality.

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Social Media

  • The accompanying message will reflect what our service does - Impartial and confidential information, advice and support service for parent carers and children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.
  • Impartiality: Parents, practitioners and professionals must view the service as impartial via our social media platforms.  We will ensure there is no display of bias towards, or influence by any particular organisation, party, point of view or policy, including local authorities, schools, education ideologies, and campaigns.
  • Content should follow these guidelines:
    • Where possible our posts will be about relevant events and messages in response to news, or events and topics that have a current ‘media presence’.
    • Proactive posting including actively seeking opportunities to repost content that helps position the service as a filter for intelligence in the sector and supportive of key stakeholders and partnerships; such as government policy announcements and activity, research findings and reports.
    • Permitted content includes photographs and videos.
    • We will not share work-related information about service users due to the nature of our casework, data protection and confidentiality.

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  • Etiquette: we will be mindful of the information disclosed on our social media sites. We will ensure that participation in social media sites does not undermine the integrity and objectives of the service. Staff will not post personal opinions on SEND IAS service social media accounts.
  • Comments: our service will respond to comments made by service-users where appropriate.  Our response to generic enquiries will be to request the service-user contacts one of our Co-ordinators directly.  If the enquiry is regarding an individual case, we will direct service user to contact the service by phone or email to ensure confidentiality.

Safeguarding

While using social media is a positive, innovative way of sharing information, resources and tools and reaching many people in a way that works for them, children and young people’s safety and security must be the top priority in all we do.   We will always be mindful of safeguarding policies and procedures and our confidentiality policy.

If, through using social media we have any concerns regarding a child’s or young person’s safety, we will follow Westmorland and Furness Council’s safeguarding.

Virtual Meetings

We will offer virtual meetings with service users where appropriate and support service users at virtual meetings with professionals after considering the individual needs of the service user and the capacity of the SEND IAS Service Team.

Role of SEND IAS Service:  Staff attending meetings will be clear whether their role at a particular meeting is either to:.

  • to support an individual, and/or
  • to contribute to discussions with prior agreement of service user.

SEND IAS Service staff will state their role at the beginning meetings.

Confidentiality: SEND IAS Service staff will not record meetings they have arranged on behalf of service users unless we have consent in the form of an email from all attendees prior to the meeting.

Sharing Documents:  SEND IAS Service staff will request consent from service-users prior to the meeting before sharing any documents at virtual meetings.