Personal spending budgets for families of disabled youngsters in Lincolnshire
Families of disabled young people will be able to shop around for support services when a new funding system is introduced.
Parents and carers of more than 3,000 people under the age of 25 will soon have the option of claiming personal budgets.
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They will be able to use the cash to buy services such as language therapy, one-to-one teaching assistance or fitness sessions.
The amount of money will be based on an assessment of the young person's needs by Lincolnshire County Council.
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The budgets will replace services provided directly by the council.
The personal budgets system is being rolled out across adult services in Lincolnshire, but it will not be compulsory for young people.
Parents of either physical or learning disabled children will have the option of a personal budget to control how they spend their money across the wider remit of education, social care and health.
It is an up-front amount of funding allocated by the council to meet the assessed support needs of a child.
Politicians say a personal budget is used to buy the services and support to meet their specific requirements and to live a more independent life.
Spokesman for Lincolnshire County Council, John Giblin, said: "If parents need extra support or services for their child then the council has provided that extra service or support - for example an extra teaching assistant.
"Under personal budgets, the government is proposing to give parents the budget to decide how they want to buy and what they want to buy in terms of services for their children."
David Watson, adult social care campaigner, said: "Personal budgets are simply not a good idea.
"Even now carers of some adults don't know how much money they are actually going to receive. So why does the council think it will work with children?
"These personal budgets are not going to meet the costs of the alternative."
Ed Moody, 66, cares for his 31-year-old son Rob in Metheringham, for whom he has received a personal budget. He said: "I think personal budgets for children are a very good idea.
"Looking after a disabled child can be a very costly thing to do and parents need as much support as they can get.
"But it must be obvious the children are benefiting from the money and not just the parents."
Comments
by dean44
Wednesday, January 16 2013, 11:18AM
“he is 15 and hard work we blamed are self at some point but thought hang on a minute are other two children are ok we did get a little help from moore house in lincoln but was useless i think and it closed down to cut backs,, now its rely on charity or volunteers who have got same problems , its sad this day and age we get little support for these type of things, if we spent money more wisely in this country we would have a very good nhs i think as for council i rang them about this piece in the paper and noone as usual new anything and still waiting for ring back but thats the council for you and education officers”
by LincolnFran
Tuesday, January 15 2013, 5:10PM
“I can't remember the name of it but one of the charity things in Asda North Hykeham where you put the green tokens in after a shop is currently for a charity for ADHD in the local area. Next time I go I will take a note. I recall it as my son had ADHD, he is 19 now and although the high functioning autism will never go away (Aspergers), the ADHD has, I am pleased to say, all but gone as he has learned to cope with things in life. How old is your son dean44?”
by dean44
Tuesday, January 15 2013, 10:12AM
“what about anger management my son as adhd and is getting older so harder to control the support in lincoln as been dire so if anyone as any ideas where we can get help he needs some ort of anger management for kids and help with his autism which is **** in lincoln for support”