Children or young people with a special educational need (SEN) or a disability can request payments from the council. It's called a 'personal budget'.
A personal budget is used to buy services and support that will help the child or young person achieve their educational outcomes and live more independently.
You can get a budget if an assessment shows they have:
- social care needs: if they need individual support in their home and outside; or
- health needs: if they have a complex, long-term, or life-limiting condition; or
- educational needs: if they have a greater difficulty in learning than the majority of other children at school or college (assessed through an Education Health and Care needs assessment)
How to apply for a personal budget
Does the child or young person have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP)?
- DON'T KNOW: see more about EHCPs
- YES: you can apply for an assessment for a personal budget to meet social care, health or educational needs.
- NO: you can still ask for an assessment for a personal budget, but only to meet social care or health needs; not for educational support. The child or young person must have had an official assessment that shows they're eligible for extra support, such as NHS Continuing Healthcare.
We will consider all requests for personal budgets. But we don't offer a budget if:
- we think it will be poor value for money
- we think it might have a negative impact on other people
- a parent of the young person is getting treatment for drug or alcohol abuse
- it's to be used to pay a close family-member that live in the child’s home to be a carer
- the child or young person is in custody
- you want it to buy a place at a fee-paying school
Education Personal Budgets
Education personal budgets can only be requested if your child has been assessed and an Education Health and Care Plan has been issued. Requests need to be made during your child's Annual Review. You will also be expected to complete an Education Personal Budget form which details what you are requesting and how this will help your child meet the Outcomes in their Education Health and Care Plan. The budget can only be used to pay for provision outlined in the EHC Plan that cannot be delivered at your child’s educational setting.
To request the form and to ask any questions regarding Education Personal Budgets, you can contact ehcinfo@oldham.gov.uk. Following the Annual Review and receipt of the form, your request will be discussed at the Resource Panel.
Social Care Personal Budgets
For a social care budget, you can apply for an assessment by contacting Child or Adult Mash: ·
If your child is eligible for a social care personal budget, we'll go through a questionnaire with you. This gives us a 'score' based on the child or young person’s needs. The higher the score, the more money should be in the budget.
Social Care Personal Budget Support Plans
The amount of money in the budget depends on the child's or young person's needs and what's in their Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan or other assessment.
When you know how much budget you'll get, we can help you plan how to spend it. Or we can give you a list of organisations that can help.
Your 'support plan' describes what the child or young person wants to change about their life, how the budget will help them make these changes, and how it will help them stay safe and as independent as possible. It identifies other resources you can use too.
Clear outcomes
The plan sets out clear outcomes we agree with you. It shows how you will use the money to reach these outcomes. It can include support from family and friends, community organisations, and school, as well as formal paid services.
A support plan must show:
- how the money will be spent through a year, including holidays
- how support will be organised and who will provide it
- who will give support from the extended family or community
- who will manage the budget, and how they'll do it – including recording the spending. All support-providers must be checked through the Disclosure Barring Service.
Managing your personal budget
You can choose how the budget is managed:
- you can get the money on a prepayment card that works like a bank card - use it to buy goods and services in shops, on the phone or online. You can't go overdrawn, or get cash on the card; or
- the council, school, or college can hold the money, and pay for the support for you; or
- you can nominate another person or organisation to manage the budget for you; or
- you can use a combination of any of these options.
You keep a record of payments in and out of the budget, and we check that you're managing the money properly and getting the support you need.
We can ask for money back if it's not spent properly, or if unspent funds are left at the end of the year.
Both Education and Social Care Personal Budgets are reviewed annually.
Further support and guidance:
IPSEA
Independent Provider of Special Education Advice (known as IPSEA) is a registered charity (number 327691) operating in England. IPSEA offers free and independent legally based information, advice and support to help get the right education for children and young people with all kinds of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
SENDIASS
The parent/carer support group in Oldham for children and young people with SEND.
- 0161 503 1547
- admin@point-send.co.uk