Self Directed Support and Personal Budgets are being implemented within social care services for disabled children between 2012 and 2014.
Key information
Self Directed Support involves identifying and allocating an indicative personal budget to meet the social care needs of your disabled child.
A Personal Budget gives you more choice, control and flexibility to arrange care services for your son or daughter.
A Personal Budget is a direct payment (cash) and / or a commissioned social care service.
Eligibility for support is subject to an assessment by social care.
How we can help
Social care will complete an assessment to identify the needs of your disabled child and family and agree outcomes that you want to achieve.
Together you will then complete a Resource Allocation Support Questionnaire which will be used to estimate the amount of money needed for social care support. You will then draw up a support plan with your social worker that evidences how you intend to spend the budget and once the support plan has been approved your budget will be released.
Sources of further help
In Control
Information and advice on Self-Directed Support, including personal stories and case studies
KIDS
KIDS, a charity working with disabled children, young people and their families, has produced a handbook on personal budgets for parents, which you can download from their website.
Pinpoint
An independent parent led group that provides information and the opportunity to share experiences with other parents.