It is the responsibility of the Parent Partnership Service and of the PPOs and IPSs to act impartially in all dealing with parents, carers, fellow professionals and voluntary and statutory agencies. The role of the PPS is to empower parent/carers to take an active and informed role in their child’s education.

The PPS will not:
• Take decisions on behalf of the parent/carer.
• Give directive advice.
• Act on behalf of the Local Authority, educational setting or other agency.

The Parent Partnership Service will:
• Ensure that the relationship between the PPS and the funding Local Authorities is well-defined, and incorporates a clear understanding of the impartiality and independence of the PPS.
• Aim to accurately reflect the views of individual parents and of parent groups in representing parental concerns to the local authority and other agencies.
• Ensure that all staff have appropriate training to enable them to understand their role in supporting parents at meetings and in discussions with other professionals.
• Provide staff with access to accurate and appropriate information from a wide range of sources to enable them to carry out their role.
• Support staff in their dealings with parent/carers and fellow professionals to ensure that they are able to act in an impartial and independent manner.

Individual PPOs and IPSs will:
• Ensure that parent/carers and professionals clearly understand that the role of the PPO and IPS is to provide impartial and objective information and support.
• Maintain a professional relationship with the families whom they support.
• Make it clear that the PPS staff members do not have a vested interest in the outcome of any decision making process in relation to an individual child or family, and do not work to a PPS agenda.
• Inform the PPS Manager of any conflict of interest in relation to individual families, parent support groups, schools, nurseries, colleges or other agencies
• Inform the PPS Manager of any personal or voluntary involvement in issues relating to education or disability if this is likely to impact on their work.