Decision - Personal Budgets and Direct Payments Policy for children and young people aged 0-25 with special educational needs and disabilities

The personal budget and direct payment policy fulfils the council's duty to offer personal budgets and direct payments to parents, carers and young people and links specifically to the council plan priorities 2 and 3 and also with 5 priority areas of the SEND strategy to allow increased choice and control of service provision for families.

Consideration was given to a report of the Cabinet Member for Children, Families, Youth Services and for Ending Violence against Women and Girls DECISION - The Cabinet Member for Children, Families, Youth Services and for Ending Violence against Women and Girls is asked to: Agree that the policy can be ratified and used by all relevant council teams. Note that our strategic partners for working with families (Amaze and PaCC) have been consulted throughout the policy development. PaCC are facilitating further work with parents and our young people are being consulted about a young person's guide to personal budgets and direct payments. Note that our staff teams have been introduced to the new policy and have developed working processes within the service teams to deliver to it. Processes have been piloted over the autumn term 2024.

This FAQ explains personal budgets and direct payments for children and young people, including how they are arranged, monitored and used to meet assessed needs and agreed outcomes. AMAZE provides advice and support, while the local authority or NHS may approve, manage or refuse funding depending on the circumstances.