Hi just looking for advice so we had our budget for 2 and half years we have had continuous hold up by SW disability team in order to use budget I had 2 pa throughout the last two years which sw disability team said to me to look for them it’s still not been signed off due to continued staff changes withing SW also refused sensory equipment and sensory bed for child’s needs because we are in a temporary accommodation also refused any adaptions due to temporary accommodation then refused repsite holiday anyone any advice I also asked for direct payment to get the pa started was told it’s complicated I have a meeting this week with SW disability team on their failure to allow me to use the budget to support my childs needs any advice be great
Hi Michelle,
Thank you for your post. It sounds like there has been a few things happening over the last couple of years. I wasn’t sure if you have already employed some Personal Assistants over this time or you were still looking to do this?
There are a couple of things that come to mind that might be helpful. There is likely to be an Independent SDS Information and Support service in your area. I don’t know if you’re already connected with them, but if you’re not, you could either do a search using our ‘Find Help’ tool on our website here: SDS Scotland website
Or, you could just let me know which Local Authority are you live in and I could forward on their contact details.
As an unpaid carer for your child, you would be entitled to an Adult Carers Support Plan (ACSP). This involves a good conversation with someone that understands carers needs and if you meet local eligibility criteria for carers, you could be offered an SDS budget to help meet your needs. Alternatively, this budget could be directed towards paying for the support that your child needs. Most Carers Centres will offer ACSPs and I could do a quick search to find the details of your local Centre of you could let me know your Local Authority area.
In terms of what you can expect from the Social Work Department in terms of how they implement SDS locally, there is something called the SDS Standards, which you can find here: SDS Standards
If you look at Standard 12 on p.15, this outlines a number of things you could refer to, such as:
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12.8 People are informed and involved in making decisions about what they can and cannot spend a budget on. Budgets spends should be fair, proportionate, legal, equitable, auditable and necessary to meeting personal outcomes. Flexibility and creativity in how a budget can be spent is encouraged.
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12.9 Personal budgets can be spent in any way that is legal and that is related to meeting agreed personal outcomes.
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12.10 All budget administration processes are transparent, efficient and minimise bureaucracy while meeting statutory requirements for monitoring and best value. Where any administrative problems arise, these must be resolved in a timely and compassionate manner in order to avoid stress and breakdown of trust.
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12.14 People can be flexible about spending different amounts on their support from one week to the next, and at different times of the year, within limits which are agreed between the worker and the supported person. People also have flexibility to move between options on request.
Hopefully your local Independent SDS Information and Support service, or Carers Centre, or Advocacy service could support you further, but this might give you some further information that you could refer to. Do let me know which Local Authority area you are in and I will pass on further relevant contact details.
Many thanks,
Mark
Looks a bit messy. My advice would be to go for a less onerous option whilst your own situation remains fluid and volatile - rather than employ staff directly, ask an agency like Cornerstone or Enable to sort it out for you. Then when things settle down into a more steady place, think about switching back.
Just so i understand, do you mean you’ve got an account set up for the direct payment, and it has money accumulating in it, but you are unable to use it? If so, what hasn’t been ‘signed off’?
Are you asking to use the money for something (e.g. sensory equipment) and social work is saying ‘no’?
Do you have a support plan with a section in it called ‘personal outcomes’?
@MarkieBoy is right to point out that section in the standards, especially section 12.9. There are even more authoritative things you could rely on if push comes to shove, namely statutory guidance, the 2014 Regulations and the 2013 Act itself.
They just gave us the support plan the other day after receiving the money back in sept which the support plan had services on it that my child no longer attends and had difference in hours etc also had everything we agreed at numerous meetings missing etc ie sensory bedroom equipment and Gail who is dealing with the pa can’t move forward until a proper copy of the budget is done they made me sign a form for the money which I stated in the small print of that form I should have also had a copy of the budget and the outcomes etc year later nearly and just getting it to be all wrong only reason I was finally given it was because Gsil asked sw direct for it and told them they couldn’t process anything until an accurate copy so I have had the funds in my daughter’s account which I also stated at numerous meetings I would be doing in order to pay and keep paper trails etc of the spending for audit purposes I’ve now been told I cannot do this and I have to transfer it back to the allpay account in my name which they opened up and this account/card you cant pay for most of the agreed things on the budget with as its got shorts breaks ie caravans blocked Paypal blocked to pay for the sensory room I was told anything that was bkocked to just transfer the money to my own bank which I have a savings account for my daughter linked to it and was storing the funds there nothing has been used yet but they threatened to stop the budget i had various other agencys at the neeting when i discussed direct payment and opening my daughter’s account for this reason.
Now saying when we are going the short break I’ve to contact them and they will pay it and take out the budget also same for respite break for my child which last year this was to be the case and we lost three respite dates organised and our short break as sw didn’t process the funds in time or realise them now we’re going to face same issues again surely I am allowed to go and pay these myself so I know they are confirmed and booked and in place last year was unbelievable
Also my daughter is now being issued with a wheelchair and there should be about 5/6 thousand left cause again not being able to use funds cause sw can’t get their finger out to do the right paper work I was advised by westmarc about a further restraint for the wheelchair to stop my child getting out which she definitely needs for her safety I asked sw could this be bought and added to the budget since their was plenty of funds left was told a straight no surely this restraint is to meet her needs for her safety
I was also told no respite so could use my daughter when need be because I have really bad health issues at moment and lots of hospital appointments etc and just been awarded high rate disability myself now all the stress sw have put us threw hasn’t helped it but I’m being told she has to go threw Gsil and a disclosure and wait to get paid monthly from them off my daughter’s budget which I send them the money it’s like a carousel for one of respites here and there and never mind the nearly 900 quid that comes of my daughters budget to pay them to do this when I don’t see why I have a card to lift out funds but cannot pay her direct on to her bank and have a paper trail for proof of funds being used for the correct things
Also does anyone know so although I was awarded my daughter’s budget when she four and is now nearly 7 and still no funds being used due to negligence I signed paperwork for the funds in sept/Oct but with them finally issuing me a copy of the budget breakdown this week and it majority of it wrong and needs to be fixed does the budget still run from sept to sept something in sw email confused me with this when I asked does the money just go back to them in sept she said no a will have new dates cause amending the budget plan
Sorry for the book but I honestly felt like telling them to shove the budget the stress has me ill constantly