{"id":3021,"date":"2024-03-22T17:32:34","date_gmt":"2024-03-22T17:32:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/handbook.scot\/sds-handbook\/?post_type=article&p=3021"},"modified":"2024-12-19T16:07:20","modified_gmt":"2024-12-19T16:07:20","slug":"self-directed-support-budget-as-part-of-your-childs-support","status":"publish","type":"article","link":"https:\/\/handbook.scot\/sds-handbook\/article\/self-directed-support-budget-as-part-of-your-childs-support\/","title":{"rendered":"Self-directed Support budget as part of your child’s support"},"content":{"rendered":"

Once a Child\u2019s Plan has been agreed for your child, everyone involved will need to work out how the support will be provided.<\/span><\/p>\n

Some supports may only be provided by statutory services (school, the NHS or services provided by local councils). Or if your child\u2019s support needs have been decided by a Children\u2019s Panel, they may impose certain types of support.<\/span><\/p>\n

You and your child have a choice in how any other support is provided. You will be allocated a budget that will enable you to choose how best to provide the support needed.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

What can we use the budget for?<\/span><\/b><\/h2>\n

Every child and young person is different, so no two budgets will be used in the same way.<\/span><\/p>\n

The budget has to be used to meet the child\u2019s assessed needs. It can be used as flexibly as the family wants to, as long it meets this need.<\/span><\/p>\n

Quite often, families may use the budget to pay for one-off things to help meet their children\u2019s needs. One example is to pay for sports kit for the young person so they can take part in exercise that will help them stay healthy. There are many other examples.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you know any other families whose child gets support, it may be helpful to speak to them to find out what they used their budget for. This will give you an idea of different things a budget can be used for.<\/span><\/p>\n

You can also ask for advice from an Independent Support Organisation. These organisations are separate from the council and are there to help people get the support they need.<\/span><\/p>\n

These types of organisation can help you think about what your child\u2019s budget could be used for, to meet their needs. You can search for your local organisation using the <\/span>Find Help<\/span><\/a> search tool.<\/span><\/p>\n

It is important that you and your child work with the professional involved in creating your Child\u2019s Plan. You will agree together on what you are going to use your budget for, and agree how this will meet your child\u2019s needs.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Who is responsible for decisions about the budget?<\/span><\/b><\/h2>\n

It is important that the views of the child or young person are listened to and taken into account throughout the process of assessment. This should be the same for making a Child\u2019s Plan, and deciding how support should be provided.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, the person holding parental responsibilities and rights is the one who has legal responsibility to make decisions and manage the budget on their child\u2019s behalf. This is most often their parent.<\/span><\/p>\n

Children aged 16 and 17 may manage their own budgets if this is deemed appropriate.<\/span><\/p>\n

If a child or young person is not in the care of their parent\/guardian, and is looked after by the local authority (council), it is handled differently. The Team Around the Child (which usually includes the person with parental responsibilities and rights) would discuss the best way of meeting their assessed needs, including budgets.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

How much control and responsibility will I have around the budget?<\/span><\/b><\/h2>\n

There are four options available when it comes to managing the budget. These are designed to give you as much control and responsibility as you wish in deciding how to use it.<\/span><\/p>\n

You can find out more about the options and what they involve in this section: Your options for controlling your support<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

There are some circumstances where you may not be able to choose how much control and responsibility you want to have around the budget. For example, in cases where a child requires alternative care, or is subject to certain protective duties.<\/span><\/p>\n

In these cases, the council\u2019s duty to safeguard the child\u2019s wellbeing is the most important. This will inform the nature of the Child\u2019s Plan and how that is delivered. This may still allow for some choice in aspects of that plan.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Will I have to contribute my own money towards the budget?<\/span><\/b><\/h2>\n

Adults who need support can be asked to contribute some of their own money towards the budget.<\/span><\/p>\n

When it comes to children and young people who need support, there are only very rare circumstances where this may happen.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Where can I get help to understand how budgets work, and get support?<\/span><\/b><\/h2>\n

You may find it helpful to speak to an Independent Support Organisation. They can help you understand more about budgets and some can also help you manage a budget. You can search for your local organisation using the <\/span>Find Help<\/span><\/a> search tool.<\/span><\/p>\n

Advocacy services can also help you and your child have your voices heard in meetings with professionals. You can find a local advocacy service here.<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Next steps<\/span><\/b><\/h2>\n

Find out about the different options you have when it comes to managing your budget on the next page: Deciding how much control and responsibility you and your child want around their support<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

If it is agreed that your child needs funded support, you will have a budget which you and your child will have choice and flexibility to decide how to use. Find out more about how this works.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-3021","article","type-article","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/handbook.scot\/sds-handbook\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article\/3021","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/handbook.scot\/sds-handbook\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/handbook.scot\/sds-handbook\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/article"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/handbook.scot\/sds-handbook\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article\/3021\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3499,"href":"https:\/\/handbook.scot\/sds-handbook\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article\/3021\/revisions\/3499"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/handbook.scot\/sds-handbook\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3021"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}