Agree with zzzzzzz (never can remember how many z's and far too lazy to look).
We here between us KNOW the government policies, regulatory bodies, how to write letters, who to contact, where to get help, our MP's addresses, the latest pilot studies, where to get resources, what books to read etc.
We also know that much of what services have to offer is pie in the sky, unaccessible and totally pointless.
We also know that policies and criteria and accessibility rules very often only apply in written form but not in practice.
It would not help me to be told that if I'm struggling that all I need to do is apply for a carers assessment for respite to get direct payments for a few hours a week when the reality is that a carers assessment in our area gets you a patronising SW with many practised excuses as to why even though you fit their published criteria you cannot have anything as there are children more severe than your child and that if you carry on going on about how hard your life is they'll open a child protection file, and then proceed to write a report full of assumptions and inacuracies about how your DH doesn't help enough in the holidays because he is too busy doing research (he's a frigging university lecturer and gets 4 weeks holiday a year like most people).
I don't need someone to tell me to go to my local sure start centre to get support on ds' behavioural issues.
Or to have someone tell me to talk to my child and sing nursery rhymes to address his speech and language difficulties.
What I DO need is this:
Someone to confirm that I am not insane and that initiating the CP process is actually a fairly common and normal tactic of LAs when the parent appeals to tribunal.
Someone to acknowledge that I do in fact have more knowledge about ASD as applied to ds than any professional that has ever met him, and that having gone on 50 days worth of training in the last 2 years IS in fact relevant and substantial and qualifies me as at least an equal in deciding his provision.
Someone to agree that the LGO is a biased bunch of incompetents staffed by ex LA employees who have an axe to grind against parents.
Someone to acknowledge that abuse of disabled children in school by teaching staff does occur.
Someone to confirm that NHS agencies do in fact invent contact-time pretty much as standard and will spend their 'allowance' on collecting evidence against you personally or attending meetings about you in your ds' allocated time rather than working with the child.
Someone to acknowledge and agree that the SEN tribunal process is stacked heavily against parents and not the accessible and fair solution it pretends to be.
An agency that can acknowledge all that and support parents who have to deal with it is an agency worth it's weight in gold.