Decision details

RESOLVED that:

       i.         The Executive Approve the revised Personal Budgets Policy including the revisions outlined in section 1.2 of the report.

     ii.         The Revised Personal Budgets Policy be published and implemented December 2023.

1.    In accordance with the SEND Code of Practice January 2015: Local authorities must provide information on Personal Budgets as part of the Local

Offer. This should include a policy on Personal Budgets that sets out a description of the services across education, health and social care that currently lend themselves to the use of Personal Budgets, how that funding will be made available, and clear and simple statements of eligibility criteria and the decision-making processes.

2.    Personal Budgets are optional for the child’s parent or the young person but local authorities are under a duty to prepare a budget when requested. Local authorities must provide information about organisations that may be able to provide advice and assistance to help parents and young people to make informed decisions about Personal Budgets.

3.    The child’s parent or the young person has a right to request a Personal Budget, when the local authority has completed an EHC needs assessment and confirmed that it will prepare an EHC Plan. They may also request a Personal Budget during a statutory review of an existing EHC Plan.

4.    Personal Budgets should reflect the holistic nature of an EHC Plan and can include funding for special educational, health and social care provision. They should be designed to secure the provision and outcomes specified in the EHC Plan.

As this is a legal requirement alternative options have not been considered.

None