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Who are PCVH?  Add your voice to your local Parent Carer Forum 

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Who are PCVH?  Add your voice to your local Parent Carer Forum 

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Parent Carer Voice is led by a Steering group of parents in Herefordshire who are working alongside the Local Authority and Health partnerships (ICS) to ensure that the needs of Children & Young People up to the age of 25 years with Additional & Special Educational Needs are being met.

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Find our more about what Parent Carer Forum's do:

What is a Parent Carer Forum and what do they do

What is Co-production and what difference should it make to children and families?

Co production Subtitled

If you have a young person aged from birth to 25 years who has additional needs or disabilities, and you live in Herefordshire or your child accesses services within Herefordshire, you can join the Forum.

Parent Carer Voice Herefordshire – Engage community, Increase awareness

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What is a Parent Carer Forum and what do they do

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Why should I join my local Parent Carer Forum

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Why should I join my local Parent Carer Forum

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Get involved, share your experiences (good and bad!) and have your voice heard

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Making a Difference   Why should I join my local Parent Carer Forum

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Universal Credit provides financial support for adults who are unable to work due to illness or disability, or who may work some hours but are on a low income.

Universal Credit provides money for rent and/or living expenses.

It is paid monthly straight into a person's bank account. Universal Credit also offers additional amounts for adults who have disabilities.

Universal Credit is separate from Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and Personal Independence Payment (PIP).

These can both be claimed alongside Universal Credit.

You can support your young person by filling out the Universal Credit online application form for them, or by supporting them to do so themselves.

You can also help them to provide all of the information that is needed for the application.

Your young person can claim Universal Credit for living expenses if they are still living with parents or other family members - this is called the 'standard allowance'

Universal Credit: What you'll get - GOV.UK

They will not get money for housing costs (i.e. rent) unless they can show a legally binding tenancy agreement with someone who they do not live with and who is not a close relative:

Claiming benefits if you rent from family - Shelter England

For a step-by-step guide to applying for Universal Credit click here:

Step-by-step guide to making a Universal Credit Claim from DWP

You can start the process of applying for Universal Credit by setting up an online account here:

Universal Credit online - Universal Credit

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 Universal Credit - work capability assessments

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 Universal Credit - work capability assessments

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Adults with disabilities or other health conditions may only be able to work for a limited number of hours each week or may be unable to work at all. Where this is the case, Universal Credit will carrying out a Work Capability Assessment (WCA) to con rm what work, if any, a person is able to do. This assessment involves filling out a questionnaire to explain how their disabilities or health conditions affect them.

It is very important to send as much supporting evidence about their disability and how it affects them.

This could include medical reports, treatment plans or test results from healthcare professionals such as GPs, doctors, consultants or nurses.

It could also include information from therapists, educational psychology or from anyone else who works with the young person and understands how their condition affects them.

You could also include written statements from other family members or friends who know the young person well and can say how their disabilities impact their life and what daily tasks they find difficult.

In some cases Universal Credit may accept the written evidence that you send them as sufficient evidence to show that the adult is not able to participate in full-time work.

In other cases, the adult may get a letter asking them to attend either a face to-face or telephone appointment with a Universal Credit assessor.

The letter will explain what happens at the appointment and what to do if you need to change the appointment time.

At the appointment the assessor will ask questions about how your young person's disabilities impact their ability to do daily-living and self-help tasks.

You can support your young person during this appointment and they can bring any new evidence that they have about how their disability affects them.

If the Work Capability Assessment decides that your young person has limited capability for work, they will not be required to look for work or prepare for work

YouTube Universal Credit Explained (2023) - Help if you have a health condition or disability in order to receive Universal Credit payments, but they can still work if and when they feel able to do so. Use the links below to nd more information about Work Capability Assessments and how to prepare for them

Health conditions, disability and Universal Credit: If you have a Work Capability Assessment - GOV.UK

How to prepare for your Universal Credit Work Capability Assessment : Mental Health & Money Advice

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Health conditions, disability and Universal Credit

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If you have a health condition or disability, you’ll have an assessment to work out how much Universal Credit you can get and what you need to do in return.

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If your young person is already receiving Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), they should continue to do so until they receive a letter telling them to apply for Universal Credit instead. Universal Credit is gradually replacing the existing 'income-related' Employment and Support Allowance that many young people with disabilities have claimed in the past and may still be receiving. Although there is now a 'new style' ESA that can still be claimed by adults who are unable to work due to illness or disability, this bene t requires a prior period of work where full National Insurance contribution were paid by the person applying.

For this reason, many young people with disabilities may not qualify for 'new style' ESA and should therefore apply for Universal Credit instead.

More information about new style ESA can be found here:

New style employment and support allowance | Disability Rights UK

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Getting a Universal Credit managed migration notice

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Disability Living Allowance (DLA) can only now be claimed for a child who is under the age of 16. However, if your young person is already receiving DLA they will continue to receive this as an adult until they are sent a letter asking them to apply for PIP.

They only need to apply for PIP if they receive a letter asking them to do so. Until then, their DLA payments will continue to be made to them. DLA or PIP can be claimed alongside Universal Credit and will not affect the amount you receive from Universal Credit.

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Personal Independence Payment (PIP) can be claimed by anyone over the age of 16 who has a disability or other health condition. A person will be eligible for PIP if they score more than 8 points across a number of different activities of life. This short video explains how the points are awarded:

The Three Minute Guide to PIP points

A full list of the activities that are considered and how many points are awarded can be found here:

pip_descriptors.pdf

Find out how to make a claim for PIP here:

Personal Independence Payment (PIP): What PIP is for - GOV.UK

DLA or PIP can be claimed alongside Universal Credit and will not affect the amount that you receive from Universal Credit.

These links will give you more information about how your eligibility for PIP is assessed and awarded:

PIP Assessment - What is the PIP test? | Turn2us

This video explains how you can challenge a decision about PIP is you disagree with it

Challenging a PIP Decision

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Disabled Facilities Grant for children and young people

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Disabled Facilities Grant for children and young people

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Some children and young people may need adaptations to their home to allow them to stay safe and be supported properly. A disabled facilities grant may be able to cover the cost of these adaptations. This grant is not means tested if the young person is under the age of 19. Adaptations may be needed because of a young person's physical or intellectual disabilities.

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Disabled Facilities Grant for children and young people

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If your young adult needs to have extra space or an additional room within their home due to their disabilities, they may be able to get a reduction in their council tax bill by lowering the council tax band that is used for their home. For example, this might be because they need an extra bathroom or kitchen, need a larger space to accommodate a wheelchair, or need an extra room for a paid carer to sleep in.

Adults who are classed as 'severely mentally impaired' can apply to get all of their council tax discounted and so pay nothing. To get this full reduction they will either need to be living on their own, or be living with others who are also all severely mentally impaired.

Where they live with any other adults who are not severely mentally impaired, they will receive a 50% discount on their council tax.

Please note that paid carers are not counted as adults living within the person's home even if they provide overnight care, and do not affect a person's eligibility for council tax reductions.

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You might be able to apply for a Council Tax discount or exemption if you or someone you live with is disabled.

Disabled Band Reduction Scheme

You may be eligible for the scheme if you live in a larger property than you would need if you or another occupant were not disabled.

If you qualify, your bill will be reduced to the next lowest Council Tax band. For example, if your property is in Band D, you'll pay the Band C rate. If your home is already in the lowest band (Band A), you'll get a 17% discount on your Council Tax bill instead.

You'll have to show that you have either:

an extra bathroom, kitchen or other room that you need for the disabled person

extra space inside the property for using a wheelchair

The property must be the main home of at least 1 disabled person. This can be an adult or a child - it does not have to be the person responsible for paying the Council Tax.

How to apply

Check if you qualify for the Disabled Band Reduction Scheme.

Discounts for severely mentally impaired people

You might be able to apply for a discount on your Council Tax bill if you or someone you live with is severely mentally impaired.

You'll need to:

get a certificate to say you're severely mentally impaired from a medical professional, such as your GP

prove your eligibility for certain benefits - check with your local council

If you qualify as severely mentally impaired

You'll get a 100% discount if you qualify as severely mentally impaired and one of the following applies:

you live on your own

any other adults in your household either qualify as severely mentally impaired or are full-time students

There'll be a 50% discount on the council tax bill if everyone else in your household is 'disregarded'.

If you live with someone who is severely mentally impaired

You'll get a 25% discount if you live with someone who qualifies as severely mentally impaired and either:

there are no other adults in your household

everyone else in your home is disregarded

How to apply

Check if you qualify for a Council Tax discount.

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A residential care home is usually a shared house where adults with disabilities live and receive the care that they need. The care and support provided is linked to the home in which they live and provided by the same organisation, so they do not have there own tenancy agreement or receive housing benefit.

The local authority and/or the NHS pay one set fee which covers all of the young person's accommodation costs, living expenses and their care and support.

The care provided within a residential care home is usually for those with more complex or nursing care needs, and the home environment will often include more specialist facilities and equipment.

Residential care homes should still support adults to access education or community activities, and may provide a schedule of onsite activities for the adults living there.

In some respects a residential care home for younger adults may look and feel similar to supported-living. However, as the home and the care are linked, it is not possible to change care provider without moving to another home. The financial contributions that the adult will pay towards their care are also different, as explained in a later section.

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Care and support that is provided in somebody's home is classed as non-residential care.

If your young person continues to live with family carers as an adult, support workers can come into the home to help them with personal care, independent living skills, or to get out and about in their community.

This care could be provided through a care agency or by a personal assistant employed directly by the young adult through the use of a direct payment or a personal health budget.

Either way, if the young person is deemed to have eligible needs following a Care Needs Assessment, this support would be paid for by the local authority and/or the NHS (depending on their particular needs).

If your young adult needs support at their family home, it is worth considering how having carers within the home might impact other family members and how this might work for your particular family situation.

Every young person and family situation is different, and so finding the right solution for them and for you as their family will be important.

Carers can also be employed to come and help your young adult get out and about, to attend clubs or activities that are important to them or to support them to pursue their hobbies and interests.

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Supported-living is a type of non-residential care.

It allows adults with disabilities to live separately from their family within a home that they rent for themselves.

This might be living on their own or with others.

In a supported-living setting they would have their own tenancy agreement just like any other adult, usually living within council housing, a housing association property or by renting from a private landlord.

Support staff come into their home to support them with whatever aspects of their life they need help with.

This care might be provided by a care agency who organise staff to work at the person's home to support them, or by a personal assistant paid for from the person's direct payment or personal health budget.

In supported-living the young adult may need help to manage their own finances, and this support can be given by a family member or by their support worker, to help them manage their household bills and expenses.

The amount of support that they receive in their home will be based on their particular needs and will be set out in their Care and Support Plan.

For some adults this care might be for just an hour each day, whilst others might need high levels of support for 24 hours a day.

Unlike residential care, the care and support that the adult receives in their home is not tied to the home itself.

They are able to change who provides their care and support without moving out of their home.

Some organisations that provide non-residential care within supported-living settings, can also help your young person find their own property to rent either through a housing association or with private landlords who rent specifically to people with disabilities.

They may also have support-living homes that have vacancies, to allow your young person to join a existing shared home.

Many adults with disabilities will receive housing benefit or universal credit which can pay for the rent on their home. Although they will still be financially assessed and may need to make a contribution towards the cost of their care and support, they should always be left with enough money to pay for their living expenses and to live an independent and active life.

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Some specialist colleges for people with disabilities offer accommodation for the young adults attending the college. This might be within a residential care home or supported living accommodation that is close to the college. This can allow the young adult to live independently from their families whilst also attending college. Click the image above to find out more about specialist colleges within the UK.

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Natspec is the membership association for organisations that offer specialist further education and training for students with learning difficulties and/or disabilities aged 16 to 25.
Our vision

Our vision is that

all young people with learning difficulties or disabilities can access high quality education and training, which meets their individual needs and supports their aspirations for skills, work and life.

Our mission and values
Natspec exists to improve Further Education (FE) for students with learning difficulties and/or disabilities.
We value specialism and personalisation within a diverse range of FE and training provision - an inclusive FE system. This education should broaden choice for young people, support their aspirations, represent their best interests and provide a social return on investment. An inclusive FE system is underpinned by three key principles:

Equality of opportunity and access

Learners views shaping the system

FE preparing young people to be included in wider society

Our policy priorities and recommendations to government aim to address many of the barriers that currently exist for young people with learning difficulties and/or disabilities.

What we do

Our core activities are to:

Support and inform our members to help them raise the quality of provision for learners. To help improve quality, we provide guidance and briefings, offer quality health checks, and deliver events, networks and conferences to our members. We also help our members provide advice and guidance to young people, their families and supporters.

Influence policy and act as an advocate for specialism in FE to create a system that works for learners. We represent members to government, funding agencies and other stakeholders, including through the use of student voice and by publishing papers and reports. We highlight the positive difference members can make to the lives of young people with SEND/ALN through our student stories, directory, website, Natspec Highlights, social media and articles.

Support the wider FE sector to improve quality of provision for all young people with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. We provide training and development through the Natspec Transform and TechAbility services. Our projects and partnerships support professionals throughout the sector. We provide opportunities for students to engage in inter-college activities such as the Natspec Games and Student Parliament. We also contribute to the work of other organisations who seek to improve the lives of people with disabilities.

What our members provide

Member colleges provide:

Challenging but safe adult environments which encourage students to develop personally and socially

Specialist multi-disciplinary teams with expertise in teaching, learning support, therapies and assistive technologies which enable students to learn effectively

High quality, personalised Study Programmes linked to Education, Health and Care plans, which support students to achieve their aspirations for work or higher education; living more independently with greater choice and control; having friendships, supportive relationships and being involved in the community, and leading a healthy lifestyle

Opportunities for students to develop their communication skills, express their views, and make choices and decisions.

To promote continuing improvement and innovation, member colleges:

Work in partnership with students and their families, with other members, with other education and training providers, and with local and national agencies

Ensure that staff are suitably experienced and qualified and have regular opportunities to update their professional practice.

Disability Confident

As part of its on-going determination to increase opportunities for disabled people to find and retain jobs, Natspec has signed up to the Government's Disability Confident scheme . We are committed to offering work experience and work shadowing opportunities for college students.

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Natspec is the membership association for organisations which offer specialist further education and training for students with learning difficulties and/or disabilities.

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Shared-lives is a scheme that allows a carer to share their home and family life with an adult who needs support. The scheme carefully matches an adult with disabilities to a carer and family that is right for them. Some people move in with their shared lives carer, while others might continue to live with their families but be regular day visitors. Before any permanent move, the adult will have the chance to get to know the shared lives carer and their family, to decide whether they are a good t for them. Shared-lives can be a first step towards greater independence and can help young people become established within a community before moving into a home of their own. Adults being supported within a shared-lives setting are financially assessed in the same way as for supported living, and will be required to make a contribution towards the cost of their shared lives placement.

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Shared Lives - Liam and Paul’s story of living with Karen and her family

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Making financial contributions towards the cost of care and support

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Making financial contributions towards the cost of care and support

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The local authority will carry out a financial assessment of your young person to see if they are required to make a contribution towards the cost of their care and support as an adult. This assessment is based on the assets, income and expenditure of the young person, and is not affected by the assets or income of their family members, carers or anyone else they may live with. The financial contributions that an adult will need to pay towards the cost of their care are different for residential and non-residential care and support.

For residential care homes, many of the young person's benefits will stop when the move in because all of their accommodation and living expenses (including food) are paid for as part of their residential home.

However, they will still receive the mobility component of DLA or PIP. Any other benefits or income that they receive will be used to assess what their contribution towards the cost of their care will be.

The rules for these contributions are currently the same for both younger and elderly adults.

Usually for a younger adult their contribution will simply be their total income less a Personal Allowance of £30.15 per week.

This personal allowance is the money that they can keep to spend on personal items, but must usually also cover clothing and any activity costs that are not provided by the care home.

Therefore, when considering residential care it is important to think about whether this weekly Personal Allowance plus the mobility element of their DLA or PIP will be enough to pay for their personal and activity expenses.

For non-residential care and support, all of the adults benefit income (excluding the mobility element of DLA or PIP) is considered when their contribution is calculated.

However, as the young person is paying for and managing their own food, household bills and living expenses, they must be left with a set amount each week called the Minimum Income Guarantee. This is an amount of money set nationally by the government each year and is currently £110.60 (2019)per week.

However, people with disabilities are often entitled to a higher Minimum Income, and may have a disability premium of £48.80 and an enhanced disability premium of £23.85 added to the standard Minimum Income amount.

The local authority must not leave a disabled person with less money each week than the Minimum Income Guarantee that they are entitled to, when setting their care contribution. In addition to the Minimum Income Guarantee, the local authority must also take into account any disability related expenditure when setting the amount of a person's contribution.

Disability related expenditure is any regular products or services that the adult has to pay for because of their disability, and these expenses will need to be evidenced by showing receipts or invoices.

Disability related expenditure will reduce the amount of the contribution that the person has to make towards the cost of their care and support.

Whilst the amount of assets or savings held by an adult can also affect the amount of their financial contribution, this is not until these exceed £14,250 in value.

In reality, most younger adults accessing care and support are unlikely to be holding this level of assets or savings and so will be unaffected.

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Home Ownership for People with Long-term Disabilities (HOLD)

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Home Ownership for People with Long-term Disabilities (HOLD)

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Adults with disabilities or long-term health conditions may be able to own their own home through a scheme called HOLD. HOLD offers adults with disabilities the chance to buy a home on the open market under a special shared-ownership scheme. They must have an annual income of less than £80,000 and must not already be living in a home that they already own.

HOLD and shared ownership and step by step guide_FINAL.pdf

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The law states that people aged 18+ are adults and are therefore free to make their own independent decisions about how they live and where they go. It is against the law to prevent an adult from being free to make choices for themselves, unless they are deemed to lack the capacity to make these decisions under the Mental Capacity Act 2005. Adults with disabilities, particularly learning disabilities, may need to be constantly supervised by other people and may not be free to leave their home whenever they want to because they need to be kept safe. If they do not have the mental capacity to agree to their own care arrangements, the Mental Capacity Act says that a court will need to grant a Deprivation of Liberty order (DoL) for the person, which sets out the reasons why some of their freedoms have to be restricted in order to keep themselves and others safe from harm. A DoL has to be regularly reviewed by the court to safeguard the adult against any unnecessary restrictions that could be put upon them. An adult who is continuing to live with their family carers would generally not need a DoL order form the court, but may need one if they move out of the family home and live within a residential or non-residential setting and require care and support that they do not have the capacity to agree to themselves. The rules around Deprivation of Liberty orders are governed by the Deprivation of Liberty Standards (DoLS) as set out in the Mental Capacity Act 2005. YouTube What are the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards? Maria Nicholas 020 8492 2290 An adult's social worker and/or care provider will normally be responsible for applying to the court for the DoL order and for reviewing this regularly. When major decisions about changes to a person's care are being made for them, a new DoL application will need to be made to the court to explain why the decision has to be made for them and who will be making it. Family carers should contribute to the DoL application to express their views about the changes being proposed

Use the links below to find out more information about DoL orders the the DoLS:

Mental capacity act 2005 | Deprivation of liberty | Mind

Understanding when someone is deprived of their liberty | The Law Society

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Mental capacity act 2005 | Deprivation of liberty | Mind

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Find out what a deprivation of liberty (DoL) is, including what DoL safeguards exist and how the DoL authorisation process works.

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Moving out of home and living independently: what are the options?

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Moving out of home and living independently: what are the options?

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Considering the options

There are essentially two types of care and support available to adults who need help to be able to manage their everyday lives.

1) Residential care Residential care provides a person with both a place to live and the care and support that they need all in one place by the same organisation. These are generally called 'care homes', and are not just for the elderly. There are also care homes that are designed to support younger adults who need care and support, usually where a small group of disabled adults share their home together. Each adult usually has their own bedroom, together with the use of other communal spaces that are shared with the other people living in the care home.

When looking for a care home for a young adult it is important to consider who they will be living with, to ensure that they will fit in well with the people already living there.

Care homes cover the cost of all of the adult's basic living needs including rent, utilities and food. Some also provide a schedule of onsite or offsite activities for those living at the home.

The local authority and/or NHS will pay the organisation that operates the care home one single payment that covers both the accommodation and care costs for the young adult.

As a result, some benefits that the young person may have been receiving before living at the care home will stop once they move in.

This includes the care component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and the daily living component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP).

However, the mobility element of these benefits will still continue to be paid to the adult while they are living at the care home.

Adults living in residential care homes should still be given as much choice and control over their lives as possible, and be encouraged to make as many decisions for themselves as they can e.g. what they eat, what to wear, what activities they participate in.

Care home staff should support them to increase their independence and self-help skills by involving them in daily living tasks such as washing, cooking or laundry to the extent that they are able. They should continue to be supported to access education or work where they are able to do so.

2) Non-residential care Non-residential care is support that is provided separately from the adult's housing arrangements. Support workers will travel to the person's home to support them where they are living.

This might be to the family home if the young adult is still living with their parents or families, or to their own home if they are living independently in a property that they rent or own.

Adults who receive non-residential care will continue to receive all of their benefits such as Universal Credit or Employment and Support Allowance, Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payment.

They will use these benefits to pay for their own rent, utilities and food, and can be supported to manage their finances by family members or their support workers. Adults living independently and who are unable to work or are on a low income, can have help with their rent costs by applying for Universal Credit or Housing Benefit.

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Moving out of home and living independently:

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Student finance for Higher Education (University and other level 4 courses)

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Student finance for Higher Education (University and other level 4 courses)

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Disabled Students Allowance - extra financial support for students in higher education who have disabilities or other learning difficulties

Help if you're a student with a learning difficulty, health problem or disability: How to apply - GOV.UK

DSA Experiences - Dan's story

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How you apply for Disabled Students' Allowance ( DSA) depends on whether you're studying full-time or part-time.

Full-time undergraduate students

If you've already applied for student finance

Sign in to your student finance account to start your DSA application.

The application for DSA should be on your 'to-do list' if you chose DSA in your application for other support. If it is not, select 'change your circumstances' to apply.

If you do not have an online account because you applied for student finance by post, fill in a student finance form ( DSA slim form).

If you have not applied for student finance

You can apply for DSA when you apply for student finance online.

If you do not need student finance, you can fill in a student finance form (DSA1 form) to apply just for DSA.

You cannot apply for student finance online once you've applied for DSA.

Part-time and postgraduate students

Fill in a student finance form (DSA1 form) to apply for DSA.

If you're already getting DSA

Fill in a student finance form ( DSA costs claim form) to claim back your expenses.

How long it takes

You'll get confirmation of whether your application is successful within 6 weeks.

It can take up to 14 weeks to get your DSA support in place as this is done separately.

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Help if you're a student with a learning difficulty, health problem or disability

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Disabled Students' Allowance is extra money for higher education students - DSA1 forms, eligibility, how to apply, needs assessment.

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When a young person reaches the age of 16, by law they are then entitled to begin making some decisions for themselves independently of their parents or carers. This might include decisions such as consenting to medical treatment, deciding where they will live, claiming benefits in their own name or making financial decisions.

However, where a young person is not able to make some or all decisions for themselves because of their additional needs or disabilities, the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) allows others to make these decisions for them.

The MCA requires that every possible support must be offered to the young person first to allow them to make a decision for themselves, but where this is not possible others are then able to make the decision on their behalf and in their best interests.

Until a child reaches age 18, parents still have legal rights and responsibilities for their child which is called 'parental responsibility'.

Having parental responsibility means that parents and carers can still make many decisions for their child until they turn 18, although a clear definition of exactly which decisions fall within 'parental responsibility' is still not clearly described within the law. After the age of 18, any decisions that are made for the young adult should be made in their best interest by everyone involved in their care.

This must include their family members who should be fully involved in any decisions that are made.

Once a young person has turned 18, family members can apply to the Court of Protection for Deputyship, to be granted the legal right to act on behalf of their young adult and make decisions for them. Please see later sections of this guide for more information about Deputyship.

Find more information about the Mental Capacity Act and parental responsibility here:

Parental responsibility & mental capacity beyond 16 | Contact

Mental Capacity Act - Social care and support guide - NHS

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The 'Mental Capacity Act' is an important law for people with a learning disability.

It helps make sure that people who may lack capacity to make decisions on their own get the support they need to make those decisions.

Where they are not able to make their own decision, the Mental Capacity Act says a decision must be made that is in their 'best interests'.

The Mental Capacity Act

The Mental Capacity Act 2005 is a law that protects vulnerable people over the age of 16 around decision-making. It says that:

Every adult, whatever their disability, has the right to make their own decisions wherever possible.

People should always support a person to make their own decisions if they can. This might mean giving them information in a format that they can understand (for example this might be easy read information for a person with a learning disability) or explaining something in a different way.

But if a decision is too big or complicated for a person to make, even with appropriate information and support, then people supporting them must make a 'best interests' decision for them.

The 5 main principles of the Mental Capacity Act

Always assume the person is able to make the decision until you have proof they are not.

Try everything possible to support the person make the decision themselves.

Do not assume the person does not have capacity to make a decision just because they make a decision that you think is unwise or wrong.

If you make a decision for someone who cannot make it themselves, the decision must always be in their best interests.

Any decisions, treatment or care for someone who lacks capacity must always follow the path that is the least restrictive of their basic rights and freedoms.

It's also important to remember that a person may have capacity for some decisions but not others, or they may not have capacity right now but may regain it in the future with support. This means all capacity decisions should be regularly reviewed to make sure they still reflect the person's ability to make decisions.

Supporting someone to make a decision

Before deciding that someone lacks the capacity to make a decision, all practical and appropriate steps must be taken to help them make the decision themselves.

The Mental Capacity Act Code of Practice includes four main points to help someone make a decision:

1. Provide relevant information

Does the person have all the relevant information they need to make a particular decision?

If they have a choice, have they been given information on all the alternatives?

2. Communicate in an appropriate way

Could information be explained or presented in a way that is easier for the person to understand (for example, by using simple language or visual aids)?

Have different methods of communication been explored if required, including non-verbal communication?

Could anyone else help with communication (for example, a family member, support worker, interpreter, speech and language therapist or advocate)?

3. Make the person feel at ease

Are there particular times of day when the person's understanding is better?

Are there particular locations where they may feel more at ease?

Could the decision be put off to see whether the person can make the decision at a later time when circumstances are right for them?

4. Support the person

Can anyone else help or support the person to make choices or express a view?

Making a best interests decision

After all steps have been taken to support someone to make their own decision, if the person is assessed as lacking capacity to make that particular decision, then a 'best interests' decision must be made.

The person who makes the 'best interests' decision is called the 'decision maker'. Who the decision maker is will depend on the situation and the type of decision.

For most day-to-day decisions the 'decision maker' is likely to be the person who is supporting the person.

If it is a decision about healthcare it will be the relevant health professional.

Whoever is the decision maker, it is important they talk with others involved with the person, and involve the person themselves as much as possible, to get a good understanding and therefore make the best decision they can.

Best interests checklist

The Mental Capacity Act sets out a best interests checklist, which must be followed when making a best interests decision:

Will the person regain capacity?

Involve the person.

Consult all relevant people.

Consider all the information.

Do not make any assumptions.

Consider past, present and future wishes.

Always pick the very least restrictive option.

The full checklist is in the Mental Capacity Act Code of Practice PD.

Involve the person you are making a best interests decision for

When a best interests decision is being made, the person must still be involved as much as possible.

Mencap and BILD's Involve Me resources offer some creative ways to ensure people remain at the heart of decision making. There are guides and a video to show how the preferences of people with PMLD can be captured and used to influence decisions about their lives, even if they lack capacity to make the decision themselves.

Independent Mental Capacity Advocate (IMCA)

If a person has no family or friends for the decision-maker to ask about important decisions like serious medical treatment or changes of accommodation, then an Independent Mental Capacity Advocate must represent the person's views.

They are a legal safeguard for people who lack the capacity to make big decisions. Read more on Independent Mental Capacity Advocates.

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The 'Mental Capacity Act' is an important law for people with a learning disability. It helps make sure that people who may lack capacity to make decisions on their own get the support they need to make those decisions.

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The video explains more about the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) and the rules around how decisions can be made for someone who can not make them for themselves. The Mental Capacity Act Code of Practice should be followed by everyone involved in the care of a person who lacks the capacity to make some or all decisions for themselves. The Code can be found here:

Mental-capacity-act-code-of-practice.pdf

Click the links below for more information about the Mental Capacity Act 2005:

What is the Mental Capacity Act?

Legislation.gov.uk

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The Mental Capacity Act: an animated guide by Infodeo.

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Similar to the Direct Payments explained earlier in this guide, the NHS offers Personal Health Budgets to adults who need care and support that would organised and funded by the NHS. If your young person regularly receives NHS services or support and you would like to consider a Personal Health Budget for them, you should ask the healthcare professional that oversees their care or their GP.

Click this link for more information:

NHS England » Frequently asked questions about PHBs

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A Deputyship is when somebody is appointed by the Court of Protection to make decisions for someone else who is unable to make them for themselves. This would usually be a family member or close friend. There are two kinds of Deputyship. A financial Deputyship allows the Deputy to manage the person's finances and property. A health & welfare Deputy can manage other decisions for the person. The application to become a Deputy for someone is made to the Court of Protection Court of Protection - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) who will consider each application very carefully, particularly for health & welfare. Once a Deputyship is awarded, the Deputy can make all of the decisions that the person is not able to make for themselves. However, the Deputy is still expected to allow the person to make whatever decisions that can, and should still consult other people involved in their care when making decisions for them. A Deputyship is not the same as a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA). An LPA can only be made when a person has full mental capacity in readiness for a time when they do not. A Deputyship is needed where a person does not have capacity to consent to someone acting on their behalf.

Deputies - legal information

Deputies: make decisions for someone who lacks capacity: Overview - GOV.UK

Common questions and misconceptions about the role of Deputies

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The Role of the Court of Protection Deputy - What is it?

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NHS continuing healthcare (CIC) is care and support that is arranged and funded by the NHS only, and not by the local authority. It can fund care in any setting including care at home or in a residential care home. A person is usually eligibility for this kind of funding for their care if their support needs are primarily due to a health condition or illness. However, severe behavioural difficulties can also contribute to someone's eligibility for this funding, as can severe communication and cognitive difficulties. The NHS in the UK is a free service to everyone, so if the care and support that a person needs is eligible for 100% CIC funding, they will not need to make any contribution towards the cost of their care regardless of their financial circumstances. In reality most young people with care and support needs will have this care paid for by their local authority as adult social care. As a result, they will have a financial assessment on their income and be expected to make a contribution to the cost of their care. Some young people with more severe intellectual or behaviour difficulties can sometimes be part-funded by both NHS CIC and the local authority. In this instance they would still have a financial assessment and make the same contribution, as this would help fund the proportion of the care paid for by the local authority. The NHS uses a Decision Support Tool (DST) to decide if someone is eligible for CIC funding for their care.

This tool can be found here:

NHS continuing healthcare decision support tool guidance - GOV.UK

There are 12 different areas or 'domains' against which a person's condition is measured on a scale that goes from 'no need' to 'priority need'. Generally, in order to be eligible for some level of CIC funding a person must have at least one 'priority' need or two 'severe' needs across these domains; although it is possible to qualify with a 'severe' need in one domain and 'high' needs in others. If Adult Social Care at the local authority believes that your young person may qualify for NHS CIC funding, they can arrange an assessment for them.

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NHS Continuing Healthcare: A Step by Step Guide to the NHS CHC Assessment

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What's the difference between social care and health care? and who pays?

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What's the difference between social care and health care? and who pays?

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The difference between social care and health care and who pays

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 Providing for your child in the future - Wills & Trusts

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 Providing for your child in the future - Wills & Trusts

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Providing for your young person in your will needs careful consideration. A Disabled Trust can help protect the money that you may leave for them. Watch this video to find out more and contact a legal professional for more advice about what your best options are for your particular circumstances

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How to protect your disabled child's inheritance with a Disabled Person's Trust in your Will

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 Benefits calculator - what are you entitled to?

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 Benefits calculator - what are you entitled to?

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Use this benefits calculator to see what benefits your young person might be entitled to as an adult.

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Use the Turn2us Benefits Calculator to find out which welfare benefits you may be entitled to.

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Universal Credit is a bene t that your young person may be eligible for as an adult, if they are not able to work or they are on a low income. Universal Credit is gradually replacing other disability benefits such as Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Income Support and Housing Benefit.

Universal Credit is paid monthly and can include money for housing costs as well as money for living expenses. Adults with long-term health conditions or disabilities who are unable to work can be eligible for extra amounts. If your young person needs to move onto Universal Credit from other benefits, they will receive a letter from the DWP telling them how to do this and when to apply.

Universal Credit is separate from Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and Personal Independence Payment (PIP), so these benefits will not affect the application for Universal Credit or how much they will receive.

For more information check out these links

Universal Credit: What Universal Credit is - GOV.UK

Check if you should move to Universal Credit from other benefits - Citizens Advice

Getting Universal Credit if you’re sick or disabled - Citizens Advice

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Universal Credit is a payment to help with your living costs. It's paid monthly - or twice a month for some people in Scotland.

You may be able to get it if you're on a low income, out of work or you cannot work.

If you live in Northern Ireland, go to Universal Credit in Northern Ireland.

Sign in

Sign in to your Universal Credit account if you already have one.

If you already get other benefits

Universal Credit is replacing the following benefits and tax credits:

Child Tax Credit

Housing Benefit

Income Support

income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)

income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

Working Tax Credit

If you're getting any of these benefits or tax credits, you do not need to do anything unless either:

your circumstances change

you get a letter called a 'Migration Notice' telling you that you must claim Universal Credit

You'll stop getting these benefits and tax credits when you or your partner claims Universal Credit. If you or your partner gets Pension Credit, this will also stop if one of you claims Universal Credit.

This will not affect any other benefits you're getting, such as Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Carer's Allowance.

You can read more about how tax credits and Universal Credit affect each other.

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Universal Credit is replacing 6 other benefits with a single monthly payment if you're out of work or on a low income - eligibility, how to prepare.

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If I choose to continue to provide some or all of the care that my young person needs when they are an adult, what help can I expect?

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If I choose to continue to provide some or all of the care that my young person needs when they are an adult, what help can I expect?

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You can choose to continue to provide some or all of the care and support to your young person after they are 18 if you are both willing and able to do so. If you choose to provide this care, you are entitled to ask for a Carers Assessment. The Care Act 2014 says that the Council must assess your own needs for support to help you in your caring role. This means that someone from Central Bedfordshire Council will talk to you to nd out how your caring role impacts your life, and what support you need to continue to be able to provide some or all of the care that your family member needs. The Council must then draw up a plan to say how they will support you as a carer e.g. helping you to juggle work and care, providing you with a break from caring, providing information about local support groups, or equipment to help you in your caring role.

More information about Carers Assessments can be found here: Carer's assessment | Carers UK

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Will my young person have to pay for the care and support that they receive as an adult

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Will my young person have to pay for the care and support that they receive as an adult

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The local authority will carry out a nancial assessment of your young person to see if they are required to make a contribution towards the cost of their care and support as an adult. This assessment is based on the assets, income and expenditure of the young person, and is not affected by the assets or income of their family members, carers or anyone else they live with. How much your young person will have to pay depends on whether they are being cared for within a residential care home or not. Further information about the charging differences for residential and non-residential care can be found in the next section of this guide.

Most young adults with disabilities will not have signi cant assets of their own, and so any contribution that they make will most often be based solely on their bene t income. Any extra costs they they have because of their disabilities will also be taken into account.

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Thurrock Adult Social Care - paying for care

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Personal Budgets, Direct Payments & Financial Assessments explained

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Personal Budgets, Direct Payments & Financial Assessments explained

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Although this video references another Council, the information provided is the same for most local authorities.

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Transitioning into adulthood for those young people with challenging behaviour  

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Transitioning into adulthood for those young people with challenging behaviour  

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Planning-for-Adulthood-England.pdf

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Young people with severe learning disabilities who display behaviours that challenge need lifelong care and support. It is important to avoid sharp cliff edges at the point at which a young person turns 18 or leaves school at 19 years old and stops receiving some of the services that they previously received. Find out more below about how to support positive transitions with the person and their family at the centre of decision making.

Planning for adulthood information pack

Information packs for families planning their relative's transition to adult services. The packs are available for England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The pack provides the tools families require as they start to plan for future support and opportunities for their relatives, including education, housing, employment and community involvement.
Find out more
Podcast: Challenge Accepted

In the latest episode of the CBF Challenge Accepted podcast series, families come together and discuss navigating accommodation and support options for their relatives while preparing for adulthood. Tune in for words of wisdom, witty observations and more.
Listen here
What Matters to Me

In our What Matters to Me Project, we have been finding out what is important to and for young people with severe or profound and multiple learning disabilities as they transition into adulthood. Based on insights gained through observations and interacting with young people, speaking to families and individuals who know them well, we have created a short film highlighting what matters to young people at transition.
Watch the transition video Find out more about the What Matters to Me Project
CB-NSG Transition Subgroup

The Challenging Behaviour - National Strategy Group (CB-NSG) has formed a transition subgroup to work collaboratively and drive strategic change. The group has identified issues faced by young people with learning disabilities in transitioning from children to adult services, and co-produced the actions that are needed to ensure young people and their families experience a positive transition. These are set out in a co-produced action plan, highlighting the changes needed to start planning earlier and take a co-ordinated approach.
Find out more Action Plan

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The CBF has produced a variety of resources to support families to plan for adulthood and highlight the changes that are needed to improve the experience for young people and their families.

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What is Social Care and who provides it?

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What is Social Care and who provides it?

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Social Care means any care and support that is provided to someone who needs help with daily living tasks such as washing, dressing or cooking etc. It can also mean support to help a person get out and about in their community and to participate in the activities and hobbies that are important to them. Unpaid carers are usually family members or friends who provide help and support to someone without being paid. There are also paid 'support workers' or 'carers' who are trained to provide care and support to adults with disabilities or health conditions, either in their own homes or within a residential care home. Carers who support people in their homes normally work through local care agencies, although they can also sometimes be employed directly by the person needing the care, and can sometimes be called 'personal assistants'. The Adult Social Care team within a local authority is usually responsible for organising support for any adults living within their local authority area who need care and support. Social Workers are professionals who work with adults to nd out what support they need and to help them to get it.

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The Care Act 2014 sets out what local authorities must do to support people with disabilities to be able to live the life that they choose in adulthood. This law sets out national rules that all local authorities must follow when they are assessing the needs of young people who are approaching adulthood or who have already turned 18. The Care Act describes when and how local authorities should provide the care and support that adults with disabilities need.

The full Care Act 2014 can be found here:

Care Act 2014

The Care Act when transitioning from children's to adult social care - Special Needs Jungle

Care Act factsheets - GOV.UK

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Legislation is available in different versions:

Latest Available (revised): The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the 'Changes to Legislation' area.

Original (As Enacted or Made): The original version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.

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An Act to make provision to reform the law relating to care and support for adults and the law relating to support for carers; to make provision about safeguarding adults from abuse or neglect; to make provision about care standards; to establish and make provision about Health Education England; to establish and make provision about the Health Research Authority; to make provision about integrating care and support with health services; and for connected purposes.

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Will my young person be eligible for care and support as an adult?

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Will my young person be eligible for care and support as an adult?

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The Care Act 2014 says that any adult (age 18+) is entitled to have ALL of their eligible support needs met by the local authority and/or the NHS if the following three conditions apply: 1. Their needs arise as a result of a physical or mental impairment or illness 2. They are unable to achieve at least two of the ten outcomes listed below without assistance 3. Not achieving these outcomes will have a significant impact on their wellbeing

Outcomes: Managing and maintaining their nutrition

Maintaining their personal hygiene Managing their toileting needs

Keeping themselves appropriately clothed Using their home safely

Maintaining a habitable home environment for themselves

Developing and maintaining their family or other personal relationships

Accessing work, training, education or volunteering

Making use of community services, including public transport and recreational facilities

Carrying out caring responsibilities for their child if they have one

Any adult is regarded as being unable to achieve an outcome if they (i) cannot do so without assistance,

OR (ii) trying to do so would cause them significant pain, distress or anxiety,

OR (iii) trying to do so would endanger themselves or others,

OR (iv) doing so takes them significantly longer than would normally be expected. Your young person has the right to have a Care Needs Assessment and the local authority has a legal duty to assess them if they appear to have any level of need for care and support.

The purpose of the assessment is to identify what help and support they will need as an adult and how this support might best be provided to them.

More information about eligibility for care and support as an adult can be found here:

Getting a social care needs assessment |

Disability charity Scope UK

Your Guide to the Care Act

Quick guide to eligibility outcomes under the Care Act 2014 - SCIE

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Care Needs Assessment for social care funding in England

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Who will carry out the Care Needs Assessment for my young person?

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Who will carry out the Care Needs Assessment for my young person?

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Getting a care needs assessment - Social care and support guide

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How to get assessed by your local council to see what type of care you need.

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What happens after my young person has had their Care Needs Assessment? 

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What happens after my young person has had their Care Needs Assessment? 

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If the assessment of your young person determines that they do have eligible care and support needs, Central Bedfordshire Council must prepare a Care and Support Plan for them which sets out all of the support that they will receive and who will provide it.

The Care and Support Plan must reflect the wishes and aspirations of the adult by listing the outcomes that they want or need to achieve, and say how the care and support will help them do this.

If the Council decides that your young person does not have care and support needs, they should still provide you with information about other local services and support that can support your young person in adulthood.

If you disagree with the outcome of your young person's Care Needs Assessment, you should first make a complaint to the Council.

you can also refer the matter to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman: Home - Local Government and Social Care who can provide an independent person to look into your complaint.

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Care and Support Planning and The Care Act

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 The Care and Support Plan: what should it include?

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 The Care and Support Plan: what should it include?

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Personal budgets and direct payments - Sense

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A personal budget is an amount of money allocated to you by your local authority, and direct payments are one way you can receive this money.

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How will the care and support for my young person be provided when they are an adult?

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How will the care and support for my young person be provided when they are an adult?

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Your young person's Care and Support Plan will set out what kind of support they need and when this help needs to be provided for them.

The local authority can organise this care and support for them by paying a local care agency to provide the carers that your young person needs.

You and your young person should still be consulted by the care agency to ensure that the carers that they send to help your young person are the right fit for them. Carers usually come on set days and times as detailed in the Care and Support Plan. Alternatively, instead of the local authority organising the care for your young person, you can ask for them to have a Direct Payment.

This is an amount of money that is paid to either the young person themselves, or to a family member, to allow them to find and employ their own carers, or to pay a care agency themselves. This money must be kept in a separate bank account and only used to provide the care and support that is included in the young person's Care and Support Plan.

Having a Direct Payment means that the money can be used more flexibly, allowing the amount or type of care to change at different times in a way that best meets the needs of the young person

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Gofal Cymdeithasol Cymru / Social Care Wales

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Social worker Lucy Powell introduces direct payments to help meet an individual's well-being outcome

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If you are over 16 years of age and you provide at least 35 hours a week of unpaid care and support to a person of any age who is receiving certain benefits, you may be able to claim Carers Allowance. This is a weekly amount paid to you to support you in your caring role. In order to claim you must not be studying for more than 21 hours a week, and your net earnings must be less than £196 a week (after tax and national insurance deductions).

Find out if you are eligible for Carers Allowance and how to apply here:

https://www.gov.uk/carers-allowance/eligibility

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You may be eligible for Carer's Allowance if you, the person you care for and the type of care you provide meets certain criteria.

The person you care for

The person you care for must already get one of these benefits:

Personal Independence Payment - daily living component

Disability Living Allowance - the middle or highest care rate

Attendance Allowance

Constant Attendance Allowance at or above the normal maximum rate with an Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit

Constant Attendance Allowance at the basic (full day) rate with a War Disablement Pension

Armed Forces Independence Payment

Child Disability Payment - the middle or highest care rate

Adult Disability Payment - daily living component at the standard or enhanced rate

If you care for the person with others

You cannot get Carer's Allowance if you share the care of someone and the other carer is already claiming:

If you want to get Carer's Allowance, speak to the other carer about changing their benefits.

If the other carer does not want to do that, you can still apply for Carer's Allowance. The Department for Work and Pensions ( DWP) will decide who should receive the benefit.

The type of care you provide

You need to spend at least 35 hours a week caring for someone. This can include:

helping with washing and cooking

taking the person you care for to a doctor's appointment

helping with household tasks, like managing bills and shopping

Your eligibility

All of the following must apply:

you're 16 or over

you spend at least 35 hours a week caring for someone

you've been in England, Scotland or Wales for at least 2 of the last 3 years (this does not apply if you're a refugee or have humanitarian protection status)

you normally live in England, Scotland or Wales, or you live abroad as a member of the armed forces (you might still be eligible if you're moving to or already living in an EEA country or Switzerland)

you're not in full-time education

you're not studying for 21 hours a week or more

you're not subject to immigration control

your earnings are £139 or less a week after tax, National Insurance and expenses

If you're from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, you and your family usually also need settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme to get Carer's Allowance. The deadline to apply to the scheme was 30 June 2021 for most people, but you might still be able to apply. Check if you can still apply to the EU Settlement Scheme.

If your earnings are sometimes more than £139 a week you might still be eligible for Carer's Allowance. Your average earnings may be calculated to work out if you're eligible.

Calculating your earnings

Your earnings are any income from employment and self-employment after tax, National Insurance and expenses.

Expenses can include:

50% of your pension contributions

equipment you need to do your job, for example specialist clothing

travel costs between different workplaces that are not paid for by your employer, for example fuel or train fares

business costs if you're self-employed, for example a computer you only use for work

If you pay a carer to look after the disabled person or your children while you work, you can treat care costs that are less than or equal to 50% of your earnings as an expense. The carer must not be your spouse, partner, parent, child or sibling.

Example

You earn £100 a week (after tax, National Insurance and other expenses) and spend £60 a week on care while you work. You can treat £50 of this as an expense.

Payments that do not count as earnings include:

money received from an occupational or private pension

contributions towards your living or accommodation costs from someone you live with (they cannot be a tenant or boarder)

the first £20 a week and 50% of the rest of any income you make from someone boarding in your home

a loan or advance payment from your employer

If you get State Pension

You cannot get the full amount of both Carer's Allowance and your State Pension at the same time.

If your pension is £76.75 a week or more, you will not get a Carer's Allowance payment.

If your pension is less than £76.75 a week, you'll get a Carer's Allowance payment to make up the difference.

If you get Pension Credit

If your State Pension is more than £76.75 a week, you will not get a Carer's Allowance payment but your Pension Credit payments will increase instead.

If you're not eligible

You might be eligible for Carer's Credit if you're not eligible for Carer's Allowance.

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Apply for Carer's Allowance - money to help you look after someone who needs to be cared for. Apply online or use form DS700.

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Find out more about other financial help that may be available to you here:

https://www.sense.org.uk/information-and-advice/benefits-and-money/carer-benefits/

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This guidance explains the entitlement to an EHCP for those aged from 19-25 years. The SEND Code of Practice p202-205 is statutory guidance that explains when an EHCP can and cannot be ceased:

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This non-statutory guidance is primarily for local authorities. It aims to support them in making fair and consistent decisions about when they should maintain an EHC plan beyond the age of 19, or issue an EHC plan to a young person aged 19 or over, in line with their duties under the Children and Families Act 2014, and as described in the SEND Code of Practice.

1. Managing 19- to 25-year-olds' EHC plans

Reforms to the SEND system (see the SEND code of practice) should mean that children and young people are better prepared for adulthood. The majority of young people with EHC plans complete further education with their peers by age 19, and our expectation is that this will continue. However, we recognise that some young people with SEND need longer to complete and consolidate their education and training. The length of time will vary according to each young person, and judgements on when to stop or maintain a plan must be made on a case-by-case basis and in accordance with the statutory tests and processes (see section 45 of the Children and Families Act 2014 and paragraphs 9.199 - 9.210 of the SEND Code of Practice).

It is important that young people start to think about their aspirations as early as possible. It is critical that, from year 9 at the latest, local authorities help young people (and their parents and carers) to start planning for a successful transition to adulthood. This includes setting stretching and ambitious outcomes. This should follow consideration of any further education or training that will enable young people to secure paid work, or other opportunities for a positive adult life.

Young people should be supported to exercise choice and control over their lives, including the 4 'preparing for adulthood' outcomes:

moving into paid employment and higher education

independent living

having friends and relationships and being part of their communities

being as healthy as possible

More information on the 4 'preparing for adulthood' outcomes can be found in chapter 8 of the SEND Code of Practice.

In line with preparing young people for adulthood, a local authority must not cease an EHC plan simply because a young person is aged 19 or over. Young people with EHC plans may need longer in education or training to achieve their outcomes and make an effective transition into adulthood. However, this position does not mean that there is an automatic entitlement to continued support at age 19 or an expectation that those with an EHC plan should all remain in education until age 25. A local authority may cease a plan for a 19- to 25-year-old if it decides that it is no longer necessary for the EHC plan to be maintained.

1.1 Maintaining existing EHC plans

When a 19- to 25-year-old continues with an EHC plan, the local authority must review it at least annually. The plan must contain outcomes which should enable the young person to complete their education and training successfully and move on to the next stage of their lives (see paragraph 9.64 of the Code). This will happen at different stages for individual young people and EHC plans extended beyond age 19 will not all need to remain in place until age 25.

For young people with more complex needs who are likely to continue to need specialist support in adult life, services will need to work together at a local level to plan and fund a smooth transition. These include:

children's services

adult social care

housing and health

This strategic planning, aided by joint commissioning and integrated services, will support a young person to:

transition successfully to adult life

receive the right support from adult services where needed

1.2 Assessing new applicants

Section 36 of the Children and Families Act sets out that all young people aged 19 to 25 have the right to request an EHC needs assessment unless one has been carried out in the last six months (see paragraphs 9.11 - 9.19 of the Code, giving further detail about the processes to follow when a request for assessment has been made).

The local authority must decide whether to proceed with the assessment within six weeks. It must assess in circumstances where:

the young person has or may have special educational needs, and

it may be necessary for special educational provision to be made for the young person in accordance with an EHC plan.

Where the local authority judges that an assessment is not necessary, the young person has the right to appeal to the First-tier Tribunal (Special Educational Needs and Disability) about this decision. More information on resolving disagreements can be found in chapter 11 of the SEND Code of Practice.

After a young person has been assessed, the local authority has to decide whether an EHC plan is necessary by following:

The local authority must also consider whether the young person requires more time, in comparison to others of the same age who don't have SEND, to complete his or her education or training.

The outcomes specified in an EHC plan for a 19- to 25-year-old should be focused on meeting their aspirations and preparing them for adulthood.

More information and examples of outcomes can be found in:

Section 45 of the Children and Families Act sets out the circumstances when a local authority may cease to maintain an EHC plan. This is when the local authority is no longer responsible for the young person, or they decide that it's no longer necessary to maintain the plan (for example if special educational provision is no longer necessary). When determining whether a young person aged over 18 no longer requires a plan, a local authority must consider whether the educational or training outcomes specified in the plan have been achieved.

When a young person is close to finishing their education and training, the local authority should use the final annual review to agree the support needed to help them engage with services after they leave education.

Where a young person aged 18 or over leaves education or training before the end of their course, the local authority must not end the EHC plan without a review. The review should determine whether the young person wishes to return to education or training, either at the educational institution specified in the EHC plan or somewhere else.

If the young person does wish to return to education or training and the local authority decides that it's appropriate, then they must amend the EHC plan as necessary and maintain the plan. The local authority should seek to re-engage the young person in education or training as soon as possible.

2. Education, training and benefits

It's crucial that local authority 'local offers' clearly set out what is normally available for 19- to 25-year-olds with special education needs and disability ( SEND), to ensure educational and training needs are met, regardless of whether they have an EHC plan.

Students aged 19 to 25 with EHC plans who are continuing in education may have a range of options, including attending:

further education

training

a supported internship

an apprenticeship

For more information on study programmes, see:

Local authorities should consider the need to provide young people with EHC plans with a full package of support across education, health and care 5 days a week, if appropriate. Packages could involve amounts of time at different providers and in different settings and may include periods outside education institutions with appropriate support.

The package, which does not need to include study towards formal qualifications, can include activities such as:

volunteering or community participation

work experience

independent travel training

skills for living in semi-supported or independent accommodation

training to develop and maintain friendships

access to local facilities

physiotherapy

Local authorities will need to work with providers and young people to ensure there is a range of opportunities that can be tailored to individual needs, including the use of personal budgets.

A young person's progress whilst they have an EHC plan can be recognised in a variety of ways, including when they do not undertake formal qualifications. This includes ('Recognising and Recording Progress and Achievement') - a 5-stage process to measure the progress and achievement of learners on non-accredited learning programmes. It may also be helpful to track progress with this recently published Preparing for Adulthood outcomes tool, designed to support the development of preparation for adulthood outcomes in EHC plans across the age range, although there are other ways to measure progress.

2.1 Special schools

Young people aged 19 can't remain in a special school unless they're completing a secondary education course started before they were 18 years old. Special schools have the option of setting up a legally and financially separate entity to provide education for 19- to 25-year-olds, as advised in the ' High needs funding: operational guide 2016 to 2017' ('Learners aged 19 to 25 with an EHC plan').

2.2 Supported internships

As stated in the ' Post-16 skills plan', we want all young people with an EHC plan to undertake a supported internship unless there is a good reason for them not to.

Supported internships are one of the most effective routes to employment for young people with EHC plans. They are a structured study programme, based primarily at an employer. They help young people get paid jobs by giving them the skills they need for work.

Supported internships are unpaid, and last for a minimum of 6 months. Where possible, young people will move into paid employment at the end of the programme. Alongside their time at the employer, young people complete a personalised study programme and are supported by an expert job coach where needed.

2.3 Providing education in a non-education setting

Education for the majority of those aged over 16 should be through a study programme, including those with EHC plans (see paragraph 7.6 of the SEND Code of Practice).

However, there may be times when special educational provision can be provided outside an institution funded by the Education and Skills Funding Agency ( ESFA), such as in a residential care home or other non-educational setting. In these cases, it would be appropriate for the education service to fund this. Decisions are made on an individual basis and currently, these cases are rare.

2.4 Studying in a higher education institution (HEI)

The ESFA funds some courses in higher education institutions ( HEI) that are not prescribed higher education courses, meaning it's possible to have an EHC plan in these circumstances.

HEIs can use their ESFA allocation to provide support for particular students, provided it meets the funding, study programme and eligibility criteria that ESFA publish every year for 16 to 19 students (see ' 16 to 19 education: funding guidance'). Prospective students should be made aware that HEI providers are not legally bound by the Children and Families Act 2014. However, they are legally bound by the Equality Act 2010.

2.5 Studying a level 4 (higher education level) qualification

Studying at this level would be considered a positive outcome from an EHC plan, and a pathway to finding a good job. However, a young person studying at level 4 in an FE college would not be entitled to an EHC plan.

There are separate systems in place to support disabled young people in higher education ( HE), including Disabled Students' Allowances (DSAs). These are non-repayable grants that assist with the additional costs incurred by disabled students. They apply to those studying HE in an FE environment. DSAs fund a range of support, including assistance with the cost of:

specialist equipment

travel

non-medical helpers (for example sign language interpreters)

For more information see the DSA finance guide.

2.6 Supporting young people who have not found a job

19- to 25-year-olds who make a benefit claim will be invited to meet a work coach at the Jobcentre. For those claiming Job Seekers' Allowance ( JSA), this will be as soon as possible. For those claiming Employment Support Allowance ( ESA) and presenting a fit note, this will be within 4 to 6 weeks of their claim. At the Jobcentre, the work coach will discuss the young person's needs and any barriers to work. They'll then agree a plan of action (a 'claimants' commitment') detailing their plans to find work.

The Department for Work and Pensions ( DWP) offers specialist employment programmes to support people into work. These include the Work Programme, Work Choice and the Specialist Employment Service. Work coaches will also signpost claimants to other local options. An Access to Work grant provides support to those with a disability or health condition who need help to work. Those with a longer term disability or health condition will have a Work Capability Assessment.

What is funded from the local authority's high needs budget would depend on the outcomes and needs specified in the young person's EHC plan. The local authority is responsible for putting the plan together and working with the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and other partners to secure appropriate provision.

The local authority's high needs budget is expected to provide the institution with top-up funding for any special education described in Section F of the EHC plan, to cover the costs of additional support in excess of £6,000 per annum. A local authority can jointly fund some education with its partners and may decide to add health or care funding to the education funding from its high needs budget, to provide a full package of support for an individual.

The ESFA allocates place funding of £6,000 per annum directly to FE institutions for high needs places required by the commissioning local authorities for students with high needs, aged 19 to 25 with an EHC plan. The local authority's high needs budget cannot be used for 19- to 25-year-olds who do not have an EHC plan, unless they are completing a course started before they were 18 years old.

3.1 Funding for those with no EHC plan

Eligibility to receive public funding through the Education and Skills Funding Agency is the same for all eligible learners regardless of disability.

For students aged 19 and above who don't have an EHC plan, learner support funding may be available to help them meet:

the additional needs of learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities

the costs of reasonable adjustments as set out in the Equality Act 2010

This support can cover a range of needs including:

funding to pay for specialist equipment and helpers

arranging note takers

particular help in lectures and seminars

special arrangements for exams

In all instances learners should contact their provider to confirm they're eligible for funding, and to check that the qualification or course they wish to study is funded by the ESFA.

For students aged 19 to 25 without EHC plans, further education ( FE) providers receive money from the ESFA to meet the costs of reasonable adjustments. Under the Equality Act 2010, FE providers must make reasonable adjustments to avoid disabled students being placed at a 'substantial disadvantage'.

All aspects of studying are covered including:

course admissions

the provision of education

access to any benefit, facility or service, for example flexible courses

exclusions

Private education and training providers also have duties under part 3 of the Children and Families Act as service providers.

4. Considering health and social care needs

Decisions about whether a young person's EHC plan should be maintained after age 19 will depend on whether they'll need special educational provision to meet the outcomes set out in their EHC plan. If a young person has achieved the outcomes in their EHC plan by age 19, then no further special educational provision should be required after that age.

If a young person over the age of 18 continues to have an EHC plan, they may have social care and health needs. Each local authority's local offer must set out:

the relationship between the Children and Families Act 2014 and the Care Act 2014

how the requirements of both acts are being implemented locally

It's critically important that CCGs and health providers work closely with local authorities to provide a coordinated and coherent offer to young people with social care and health needs after the age of 19.

The Care Act 2014 places a duty on local authorities to conduct transition assessments for children or young people, their carers and young carers where there is a likely need for care and support after the young person turns 18.

4.1 Social care

Where young people aged 18 or over continue to have EHC plans, and are receiving care and support, this will be provided under the Care Act 2014.

The EHC plan should be the overarching plan that ensures young people receive the support they need to help them achieve agreed educational outcomes. The statutory adult care and support plan (see part 3 of the Children and Families Act) should form the 'care' element of the young person's EHC plan.

CCGs should use the ' National framework for NHS continuing healthcare ' to determine what ongoing care services young people should receive.

It's important that representatives from adult NHS continuing healthcare:

Health and social care colleagues may also find it useful to look at the NICE guidelines on transitioning from children's to adult's services for young people using health or social care services.

In addition to this, many young people with chronic health conditions will require ongoing care from their local GP surgeries.

5. Including young people in decision-making

Local authorities should be aware that from the age of 16 a young person is responsible for making decisions. We should not assume that parents will make decisions on behalf of young people over 19 with an EHC plan, even if there are questions over the young person's mental capacity.

The Children and Families Act 2014 states that local authorities must:

understand the importance of young people participating 'as fully as possible' in decision-making

provide information and support to assist their participation in decision-making

It also identifies specific decision-making rights about 19- to 25-year-olds' rights relating to EHC plans. For example, they have the right to:

request an assessment (any time up to their 25th birthday)

make comments about or request changes to the content of the plan

request that a particular institution is named in their plan

request a Personal Budget for elements of their plan

appeal to the First-tier Tribunal (Special Educational Needs and Disability) about decisions

The Council for Disabled Children has developed a toolkit to help young people make their own decisions. Find out more about the Mental Capacity Act in the code of practice and 'Preparing for Adulthood' factsheet.

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SEND: 19- to 25-year-olds' entitlement to EHC plans

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This non-statutory guidance is primarily for local authorities. It aims to support them in making fair and consistent decisions about when they should maintain an EHC plan beyond the age of 19, or issue an EHC plan to a young person aged 19 or over, in line with their duties under the Children and Families Act 2014, and as described in the SEND Code of Practice.

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Will my young person lose their EHCP at 18?

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Will my young person lose their EHCP at 18?

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Whilst most young people leave further education at age 18, some young people with SEND need to stay in education for longer to consolidate their learning in preparation for adulthood.

If this is the case, your young person's EHC Plan can continue until age 25 as long as they still have special educational needs and they are still in some form of education or training (excluding higher education e.g. university).

The local authority can only take away a young person's EHC Plan if any of the following apply:

The young person's special educational needs have changed and no longer require the provision set out in the plan.

However, if the outcomes in the EHCP have not been met then the EHCP should continue and the provision amended

The local authority is no longer responsible for the young person because they have moved to a different local authority area The young person is no longer attending any kind of education

The young person has moved into higher education e.g. university

The young person has reached age 25

The young person is in paid employment The local authority can also cease an EHCP if the young person no longer needs the provision set out within it.

However, the law requires the local authority to consider whether the outcomes in the EHCP have been achieved.

If they have, there may still be a need to set new outcomes for the young person. If not, then this would indicate that the EHCP should continue.

Find out what to do if your young person's EHCP is being ceased by the local authority:

https://www.ipsea.org.uk/if-your-la-takes-away-your-ehc-plan

https://contact.org.uk/help-for-families/information-advice-services/education-start/education-learning/ehc-plans-assessments/change-in-circumstances/

The SEND Code of Practice p202-205 explains when an EHCP can be ceased:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a7dcb85ed915d2ac884d995/SEND_Code_of_Practice_January_2015.pdf

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What happens when my child turns 18 and becomes an adult?

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What happens when my child turns 18 and becomes an adult?

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Before a child reaches 18, their parents or carers have legal rights and responsibilities, which is called having 'parental responsibility'.

Parental responsibility means that parents and carers are primarily responsible for looking after their child, providing a home for them and protecting them from harm. Parents can also make most decisions for their child and independently decide what is best for them.

The state can assist parents who have a disabled child by providing them extra support (such as offering respite care) but parents still remain primarily responsible for providing most of the care for their own children.

When a child reaches the age of 18 this changes. The child then legally becomes an adult and parental responsibility no longer applies.

This means that parents are no longer legally required to meet the needs of their child, and the responsibility for providing any eligible support that their child still needs as an adult to keep themselves safe and to stay healthy transfers to the state. Local authorities are not allowed to assume that parent carers will continue to care for their child after they reach the age of 18.

As family carers are no longer expected to care for their son or daughter when they become an adult, they only need to continue to provide the care for them that they are both willing and able to offer. This might mean continuing to provide all of their child's care if they choose, or providing some of their care with the rest being provided by the local authority and/or the NHS.

Reaching the age of 18 and becoming an adult also means that the young person can legally begin making decisions for themselves, unless they are deemed not to have mental capacity to make some or all of their own choices.

This guide will help explain these changes, what happens for adults who can not make all of their own decisions, and how parents or carers can secure the support that their young person may need in adulthood to be able to live the life that they chose.

This may include living independently from their family carers if they wish to do so, or if their family carers are unable or unwilling to continue caring for them at home.

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Whether your young person has an EHCP or a SEN Support Plan, the support for their special educational needs should continue into post-16 education, whether they are at college, sixth form or on a vocational learning or training course. The SEN Code of Practice p111-119 explains what post-16 educational settings must do to support young people with special educational needs:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a7dcb85ed915d2ac884d995/SEND_Code_of_Practice_January_2015.pdf

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When a young person reaches the age of 16, by law they are then entitled to begin making some decisions for themselves independently of their parents or carers. This might include decisions such as consenting to medical treatment, deciding where they will live, claiming benefits in their own name or making financial decisions.

However, where a young person is not able to make some or all decisions for themselves because of their additional needs or disabilities, the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) allows others to make these decisions for them.

The MCA requires that every possible support must be offered to the young person first to allow them to make a decision for themselves, but where this is not possible others are then able to make the decision on their behalf and in their best interests.

Until a child reaches age 18, parents still have legal rights and responsibilities for their child which is called 'parental responsibility'.

Having parental responsibility means that parents and carers can still make many decisions for their child until they turn 18, although a clear definition of exactly which decisions fall within 'parental responsibility' is still not clearly described within the law. After the age of 18, any decisions that are made for the young adult should be made in their best interest by everyone involved in their care. This must include their family members who should be fully involved in any decisions that are made.

Once a young person has turned 18, family members can apply to the Court of Protection for Deputyship, to be granted the legal right to act on behalf of their young adult and make decisions for them. Please see later sections of this guide for more information about Deputyship.

Find more information about the Mental Capacity Act and parental responsibility here:

https://contact.org.uk/help-for-families/information-advice-services/preparing-for-adult-life/parental-responsibility-amp-mental-capacity-beyond-16/

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/social-care-and-support-guide/making-decisions-for-someone-else/mental-capacity-act/

https://www.mencap.org.uk/advice-and-support/mental-capacity-act

https://www.gov.uk/parental-rights-responsibilities

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As your child gets older, you might have to decide whether they're able to make decisions for themselves. If not, there may be legal steps you can take to make decisions on their behalf.

Parental responsibility

As a parent, you have certain rights and responsibilities in relation to your child. These rights and responsibilities are defined in law and called parental responsibility.

Having parental responsibility means having a key role in the way you bring up your child. It can mean making decisions for them and acting in their best interest. This includes decisions on where your child lives, their education and consenting to medical treatment.

All mothers and most fathers have parental responsibility automatically. Other carers can gain or apply for parental responsibility.

Parental responsibility ends when a young person reaches the age of 18. But it can end earlier in specific circumstances, including if the child is adopted or a young person between 16 and 18 gets married.

You can read more about parental responsibility at
www.gov.uk/parental-rights-responsibilities

Involving your child in decisions

Even before 18, you will be involving your child in decisions about their life and plans for the future. This is particularly so from age 16, when the Mental Capacity Act framework applies - see below.

You and any professionals working with them, including education, health and social care teams, should be supporting their involvement.

Mental capacity

The Mental Capacity Act in England and Wales presumes that young people aged 16 and over have mental capacity to make decisions for themselves. Until they are 18, this is alongside the parental responsibility you have for them.

Mental Capacity Act's five principles

The Mental Capacity Act introduces five key principles around supporting people who may lack mental capacity to make their own decisions:

A person must be assumed to have capacity unless it is established that they lack capacity.

A person is not to be treated as unable to make a decision unless all practicable steps to help him to do so have been taken without success.

A person is not to be treated as unable to make a decision merely because he makes an unwise decision.

An act done, or decision made, under this Act for or on behalf of a person who lacks capacity must be done, or made, in his best interests.

Before the act is done, or the decision is made, regard must be had to whether the purpose for which it is needed can be as effectively achieved in a way that is less restrictive of the person's rights and freedom of action.

The first three principles relate to assessing whether someone has mental capacity. The last two principles are to do with making decisions on behalf of someone who lacks mental capacity.

Assessing mental capacity

Usually, social care or health professionals will decide whether your child has mental capacity to make a particular decision. Alongside the principles above, they must follow guidance and consider financial and other implications.

If your child lacks capacity to make decisions for themselves, there may be legal steps you can take to make decisions on their behalf.

Becoming a deputy

If your child has always lacked mental capacity, you can apply to the Court of Protection to become their deputy. Becoming your child's deputy will allow you to make decisions on their behalf.

Property and financial affairs deputies can manage someone's bills and finances. Personal welfare deputies can make decisions about medical treatment and personal care. You can apply to be one type of deputy or both.

However, the Mental Capacity Act Code of Practice states that the court will appoint personal welfare deputies only in the most difficult cases, where either:

Important and necessary actions cannot be carried out without the court's authority.

There is no other way of settling the matter in the best interests of the person who lacks capacity to make particular welfare decisions.​​

If a personal welfare decision is not controversial and no one opposes it, it may be possible to make the decision on behalf of the person who lacks mental capacity without referring to the Court of Protection. ​

The Court of Protection will also hear cases for becoming a deputy for a child aged 16 to 17 where any of the following applies:

The local authority is involved.

There is a dispute.

It is a decision that legally does not fall under parental responsibility.

The Court of Protection is likely to refuse a deputyship application if there is some other way to achieve the benefit to your child.

See more about deputyship on the gov.uk website.

Becoming an appointee

An appointee is a role particular to the welfare benefits system. By acting as your child's appointee, you'll be able to manage on their behalf the benefits they receive from age 16. This includes Personal Independence Payment, Child Disability Payment, Adult Disability Payment and Universal Credit.

Acting as your child's appointee means that you'll receive their benefits for them. You'll be able to make claims on their behalf, and you'll be responsible for keeping the relevant office informed of any change to your child's circumstances.

Read more about becoming a benefits appointee.

Power of attorney

​Power of attorney is when a person gives their consent to someone else to make decisions on their behalf, for example in the event they get ill or have an accident.

The person must have the mental capacity to give someone power of attorney to make decisions on their behalf.

Read more about power of attorney at gov.uk

Accessing Child Trust Funds & Junior ISAs

If you set up a Child Trust Fund or Junior ISA for your child, only they can access their savings when they turn 18.

If they lack mental capacity to do so, you usually need to apply to the Court of Protection to become their deputy in England and Wales. In Scotland, you will need to make an application to the Office of the Public Guardian in Scotland. And in Northern Ireland, you'll need to apply to the Office of Care and Protection.

Some providers do allow parents to access the savings via the benefits appointee system on a case-by-case basis. Talk to your provider to see what they can do. We are campaigning to expand the benefits appointee system so that it covers all Child Trust Funds and Junior ISAs up to £5,000.

Helpful resources

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Parental responsibility & mental capacity beyond 16 | Contact

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As your child gets older, you'll need to decide whether they can make decisions for themselves. If not, there may be legal steps to take.

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The video explains more about the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) and the rules around how decisions can be made for someone who can not make them for themselves

https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/legal-rights/mental-capacity-act-2005/about-the-mental-capacity-act/

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2005/9/contents

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The Mental Capacity Act: an animated guide by Infodeo.

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Some young people with an EHC Plan may require specialist further education provision. Find out about providers across the UK here.

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Look for one of our member colleges using the search tools. If you already know the name of the college that you're looking for, view colleges listed alphabetically

By Geographical Area

If you would prefer to search by area, please use the map below.
Zoom in or out by clicking the + or - buttons on the left and move aound the map by clicking the arrows. To view the college details, left click on a marker.
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By Area of Expertise

If you would prefer to search for colleges by their area of expertise, please use the list below. Once you have selected an area, please click the 'Submit' below

College Directory

We produce a directory of our member colleges which you can view online or in print.

share this page:

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Search for one of our member colleges by location or by expertise.

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Pupils with SEND may qualify for extra help with their GCSE examinations. This could include your young person being given extra time to complete an exam, taking the exam in a different location or using computer to write or having someone else present to write for them. The rules about who

qualifies for extra support are set out by the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ)

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(IPSEA) Independent Provider of Special Education Advice

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Pupils who have learning difficulties and disabilities may qualify for help in public examinations

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 JCQ - extra support during exams for pupils with SEND

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 JCQ - extra support during exams for pupils with SEND

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This document describes what kinds of support can be offered to pupils and what schools must do to facilitate these adjustments. More information can be found here:

Access Arrangements, Reasonable Adjustments and Special Consideration - JCQ Joint Council for Qualifications

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Access Arrangements are pre-examination adjustments for candidates based on evidence of need and normal way of working. Access Arrangements fall into two distinct categories: some arrangements are delegated to centres, others require prior JCQ awarding body approval.

Access Arrangements allow candidates/learners with special educational needs, disabilities or temporary injuries to access the assessment without changing the demands of the assessment. For example, readers, scribes and Braille question papers. In this way Awarding Bodies will comply with the duty of the Equality Act 2010 to make 'reasonable adjustments'.
Reasonable Adjustments
The Equality Act 2010 requires an Awarding Body to make reasonable adjustments where a disabled person would be at a substantial disadvantage in undertaking an assessment.

A reasonable adjustment for a particular person may be unique to that individual and may not be included in the list of available Access Arrangements.

How reasonable the adjustment is will depend on a number of factors including the needs of the disabled candidate/learner. An adjustment may not be considered reasonable if it involves unreasonable costs, timeframes or affects the security or integrity of the assessment.

There is no duty on the Awarding Bodies to make any adjustment to the assessment objectives being tested in an assessment.
Special Consideration
Special Consideration is a post examination adjustment to a candidate's mark or grade to reflect temporary injury, illness or other indisposition at the time of the examination/assessment.

Forms

Within this section you will find JCQ forms for Access Arrangements, Reasonable Adjustments and Special Consideration.

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Access Arrangements, Reasonable Adjustments and Special Consideration - JCQ Joint Council for Qualifications

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Access Arrangements are pre-examination adjustments for candidates based on evidence of need and normal way of working. Access Arrangements fall into two distinct categories: some arrangements are delegated to centres, others require prior JCQ awarding body approval. Access Arrangements allow candidates/learners with special educational needs, disabilities or temporary injuries to access the assessment without changing the demands of the assessment.

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Reviewing an EHCP before moving into post-16 education or training

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Reviewing an EHCP before moving into post-16 education or training

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If your young person has an EHC Plan, this must be reviewed during the autumn term of Year 11 so it can be updated in readiness for them moving into post-16 education. The local authority must then send you a draft copy of the amended EHC Plan with the new school or college named on it, so that you can agree or comment on the amendments that have been made. The nal version of the EHC Plan must then be sent to you by 31st March in Year 11.

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(IPSEA) Independent Provider of Special Education Advice

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Moving to a new phase of education with an EHC Plan

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Apart from when an EHC plan is first issued, the move between phases of education is the most common time that parents, carers or young people have to think about what school or college should be named in the EHC plan. There should always be an annual review of the EHC plan before a transfer to a ne…

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Reviewing an EHCP before moving into Post-16 education or training - The law

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Reviewing an EHCP before moving into Post-16 education or training - The law

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The Special Educational Needs and Disability Regulations 2014 set out when and how an EHCP should be reviewed before a young person transitions into a new school or college.

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(IPSEA) Independent Provider of Special Education Advice

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Moving to a new phase of education with an EHC Plan

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Apart from when an EHC plan is first issued, the move between phases of education is the most common time that parents, carers or young people have to think about what school or college should be named in the EHC plan. There should always be an annual review of the EHC plan before a transfer to a ne…

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 Will my young person lose their EHCP at 16?

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 Will my young person lose their EHCP at 16?

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Your young person's EHC Plan does not end at age 16, but should continue until age 25 as long as they still have special educational needs and they are still in some kind of education or training (excluding higher education e.g. university).

The local authority can only take away a young person's EHC Plan if:

The young person's special educational needs have changed and no longer require the provision set out in the plan.

However, if the outcomes in the EHCP have not been met then the EHCP should continue and the provision amended The local authority is no longer responsible for the young person because they have moved to a different local authority area

The young person has left any kind of education (this can only be the case once they reach age 18)

The young person has moved into higher education e.g. university

The young person has reached age 25

The young person is in paid employment

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SEN Legal Webinars - Ceasing to Maintain an EHC Plan

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Education beyond 16 for young people with SEND

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Education beyond 16 for young people with SEND

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Post-16 education does not only have to be school or college. It could include work experience, volunteering or self-help skills. Click this image to find out more about the options to consider

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Attending college does not have to mean studying for traditional post-16 qualifications. Most local colleges also offer courses in foundation and life skills that are targeted towards young people with learning disabilities. These courses provide specialist support for learning social, personal and independent living skills

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Applying for Transport to Post-16 Education or Training

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Applying for Transport to Post-16 Education or Training

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The local authority can offer subsidised transport assistance to the nearest post-16 school or college that can meet the young person's needs and that offers their preferred course of study. This is usually offered where the school or college is more than 3 miles away from a young person's home. However, if your young person's needs mean that they are unable to walk 3 miles safely, they should still be eligible for transport assistance. Transport assistance is only subsidised, and a termly fee is usually charged unless your family is on a low income. If your young person chooses to attend a mainstream school or college that is not the nearest one offering the course they want, they will not be eligible for this transport assistance. The programme of study must normally be full-time, which is de ned as 15 hours per week for at least 30 weeks of the year. However, if your young person is attending post-16 education part-time because of their SEND, they will still qualify. Post-16 transport should be applied for each year by 15th July to ensure that travel arrangement are in place ready for the start of term in September. Applications can be made after this date, but it may take longer to have the transport in place.

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This statutory guidance explains what transport assistance local authorities have to provide to help young people get to and from their post-16 education. It includes details about what support should be provided for young people with special educational needs or disabilities (see pages 13-14)

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When a young person moves into post-16 education (after year 11) they can apply for a Vulnerable Learner Bursary to help with the cost of of things such as transport, books or equipment for their course of study. To be eligible for this bursary young people must be aged 16-19 when they start their course and this must be at a publicly funded school or college, or at a training course (including unpaid work experience). In order to apply a young person also needs to be in receipt of Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) or Universal Credit (in their own name). The Bursary can be worth up to £1,200 but the amount will depend on the young person's particular needs and the course they have chosen. You or your young person can apply for this bursary through their post-16 school, college or training provider. Please see the links below for further help

16 to 19 Bursary Fund: Eligibility - GOV.UK

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GOV.UK uses cookies to make the site simpler.

You could get a bursary to help with education-related costs if you're aged 16 to 19 and:

studying at a publicly funded school or college in England - not a university

on a training course, including unpaid work experience

A publicly funded school is one that does not charge you for attending it.

If you're 19 and over

You could also get a bursary if you either:

What a bursary is for

A bursary is money that you, or your education or training provider, can use to pay for things like:

clothing, books and other equipment for your course

transport and lunch on days you study or train

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GOV.UK uses cookies to make the site simpler. You could get a bursary to help with education-related costs if you're aged 16 to 19 and: studying at a publicly funded school or college in England - not a university on a training course, including unpaid work experience A publicly funded school is one that does not charge you for attending it.

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Supported internships for people with additional needs

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Supported internships for people with additional needs

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More information about supported internships can be found here: YouTube Supported internships for people with additional needs Supported internships - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Supported Internships For 16-24 Year-Olds

UCAS Progress What is Internships Work? - NDTi

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Supported internships for people with additional needs

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Filling in the PIP claim form can feel overwhelming.

Please use the links below for help and support about how to do this:

Check how to fill in your claim form - Citizens Advice

This video explains what PIP points are and how many are needed to receive the standard or enhanced rate of PIP:

The Three Minute Guide to PIP points (youtube.com)

Click this link to see the points awarded for different types of difficulties in each of the activity sections on the form: pip-9-table-of-activities-descriptors and-points.pdf (citizensadvice.org.uk)

The governments full guidance on how PIP should be assessed and awarded can be found here:

PIP assessment guide part 2: the assessment criteria - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

PIP handbook - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

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Applying for PIP - how to fill in your claim form

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Youth Employment Hub – Herefordshire Council

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Herefordshire Council provides local authority services, including Council Tax, planning applications, bin collections, libraries, roads and parking

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Access to Work: financial support to help people with disabilities to get and stay in work

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Access to Work: financial support to help people with disabilities to get and stay in work

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An Access to Work grant can help to pay for the support that

people with disabilities need to get a job or to stay in work.

Young people must be at least age 16 to be eligible and must

already be in work or about to start a new job. This work can be

full or part-time, it can be an apprenticeship or an internship,

work experience, or self-employment. But it must be paid

work. Getting the grant is not affected by a person's other

income and can be claimed at the same time as most benefits.

Find more information and how to apply here:

Access to Work: get support if you have a disability or health

condition: What Access to Work is - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk

Supported internships

Supported Internships help young people aged from 16 who have additional needs or disabilities prepare for paid employment. Internships are a combination of workplace volunteering and study at college, to help prepare young people to move into a paid job. They are usually offered by colleges and other specialist providers who connect with local employers that can offer six month work placements.

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Moving from Disability Living Allowance (DLA) to Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

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Moving from Disability Living Allowance (DLA) to Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

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When your young person reaches age 16, they may need to move from DLA to PIP. When you need to apply for PIP for your young person, you will receive a letter from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) asking you to make a claim and explaining how you can do this.

Payment of DLA will continue until PIP is in place, but you will need to apply by the date given in the letter.

If your young person has never claimed DLA, they are still entitled to apply for PIP from age 16.

You can find out who is eligible, how much you might receive, and how to claim here:

https://www.gov.uk/pip

More help with applying for PIP can be found here:

Personal Independence Payment (PIP):

What PIP is for - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

| Mencap SMN - Guide to completing a Personal Independence Payments (PIP) form (youtube.com)

Moving from DLA to PIP - Citizens Advice Changing from DLA to PIP

| Disability charity Scope UK

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Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children – When a child turns 16

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How To Complete The PIP Claim Form - Step By Step Guide

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If your child will continue to need help to manage their bene ts after the age of 16, you will need to register as their DWP Appointee. Click this link to find out who you need to contact to become a DWP Appointee for your child:

Become an appointee for someone claiming benefits - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

More information about becoming a DWP Appointee: Becoming an appointee | Disability charity Scope UK

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What changes can I expect when my child turns 16?

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What changes can I expect when my child turns 16?

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When a young person reaches 16 years old, some things can change for them.

This can include changes to their benefits, their education, and their employment opportunities.

The following sections in this guide will help you understand what these changes are. During Year 11 young people are making decisions about their post-16 future and whether to stay in education or to move into supported employment, work or other training.

The sections below will help to explain some of the educational support and options available, as well as other issues relating to turning 16.

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Ready, Steady, Go is a programme designed to help young people transition from children's to adult health services, and to support them in their learning and understanding about their conditions.

The Ready, Steady Go programme provides easy read versions of its resources which can be found here:

Moving into Adulthood booklet: ready-steady-go-programme-easy-read-booklet 2459-patient-information.pdf (readysteadygo.net)

'Ready' questionnaire: easy-read-ready-3.pdf (readysteadygo.net)

'Steady' questionnaire: easy-read-steady-3.pdf (readysteadygo.net)

'Go' questionnaire: easy-read-go-3.pdf

Ask your clinician or health professional about this programme if you feel it may be helpful for your child.

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Phase Transfer - moving on to a new school or college with an EHC Plan

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Phase Transfer - moving on to a new school or college with an EHC Plan

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When a young person is moving on to a new school or college this is called a 'Phase Transfer'. In Herefordshire, a Phase Transfer happens when your young person is moving from a secondary school into post-16 education

If a young person has an EHC Plan they are entitled to ask for a place at any mainstream school or college, provided that:

The school or college is suitable for their age, ability and special educational needs Their attendance at the school or college would not be incompatible with the education of other pupils at the school

A place at the school or college would be an efficient use of local authority resources - this condition means that the local authority does not have to provide a place at a more expensive school or college if there is another school or college that can also meet the young person's needs at a lower cost.

The Phase Transfer process begins in Year 10.

In the summer term of this year you should receive an invitation to a 'Transfer Review Meeting' from your young person's school.

The Transfer Review Meeting must be held before the end of the Autumn Term of Year 11.

This meeting is your opportunity to say which new school or college you would like your child to transfer into.

The Transfer Review Meeting must also act as an Annual Review of your child's EHC Plan to ensure that their Plan is amended where needed to include the most up-to-date information about them, ready for their move to their new school or college. For young people in special school, the Transfer Review Meeting can still be held in Year 11 if they wish to move to other post-16 education rather than remaining at the special school.

The EHC Team will consider the new school or college that you have requested, together with any proposed updates

IPSEA Independent Provider of Special Education Advice

Moving to a new phase of education with an EHC Plan to the young person's EHC Plan, and send you a new draft EHC Plan showing the name of the new school or college and any other amendments to the Plan that are needed.

The Send Team must do this by 31st March during Year 11. The young person's current and new school or college should then start to plan for their transition, working closely with you to ensure that the change is as smooth and stress-free as possible. To help with this process, you can contact the SENCo at the new school or the Additional Learning Support Team at the college to talk to them about how best to help your young person during their transition.

If you disagree with the school or college that the local authority has named on your young person's EHC Plan you should contact the SEND Team to discuss this. You have the right to appeal the local authority's decision with SENDIASS by using this form: Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal appeal: Form SEND35 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

This appeal must be sent to SENDIASS within two months of you receiving the new finalised EHC Plan.

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(IPSEA) Independent Provider of Special Education Advice

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Moving to a new phase of education with an EHC Plan

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Apart from when an EHC plan is first issued, the move between phases of education is the most common time that parents, carers or young people have to think about what school or college should be named in the EHC plan. There should always be an annual review of the EHC plan before a transfer to a ne…

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Phase Transfer - moving on to a new school or college with a SEN Support Plan

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Phase Transfer - moving on to a new school or college with a SEN Support Plan

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All maintained schools and colleges have a legal duty under section 66 of the Children and Families Act 2014 to put in place the support that a pupil requires because of their special educational needs. This means that any support that a young person is receiving when they transfer to a new school or college must continue to be provided. You can contact the school and ask to speak to the school SENCo or the Additional Learning Support Team at the college, to discuss your young person's needs and check what support is going to be put in place for them. If you feel that the support that they will be offering your young person is not going to be adequate, you can consider requesting an EHC Needs Assessment for your young person as the rst step in securing an EHC Plan for them. Even though an EHC Plan may not have been necessary in a previous setting, it may sometimes become necessary in later phases of education. Find out more about requesting an EHC Needs Assessment here:

Secondary school admissions – Herefordshire Council

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Secondary school admissions – Herefordshire Council

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Information about secondary school admissions

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Creating a Hospital Passport for your child or young person can help them access their local hospital for check ups or treatment more easily. It can be given to hospital staff to let them know about your child's health conditions, their learning disability, how they communicate and what hospital staff can do to make things easier for them. Showing staff a hospital passport will stop you having to explain the same information about your child again and again to different healthcare professionals. It can help your child or young person get the kind of care that works best for them. It is always a good idea to have multiple copies of their hospital passport available so that it can be given to everyone who comes into contact with your young person whilst they are at the hospital. More information about hospital passports can be found here: Learning disabilities - Support if you are going into hospital - NHS (www.nhs.uk) Click on the image above to look at one format for a Hospital Passport. Other formats can be found here: healthcare-passport.pdf (england.nhs.uk) Hospital Passport to fill in electronically.pdf (hscni.net) download.

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EHCP Annual Reviews in Year 9 and beyond

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EHCP Annual Reviews in Year 9 and beyond

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Every Annual Review of your child's EHCP from Year 9 onwards must include planning for their transition into post-16 education and into adult life more generally. It must include their choices and wishes for their future education, work or training; whether they want to move out of home and live independently; how they want to access their local community and make/maintain their friendships; and what they need as they move into adult health services. Your child's EHC Plan should be updated at the Year 9 Annual Review to include their wishes about any or all of these things, and clearly lay out their aspirations for their future as a teenager and as an adult. From the Year 9 Annual Review, their EHC Plan must include outcomes which help them to prepare for the future life that they choose. Parents and carers must also be given an opportunity to express their views and thoughts about their child's future and should be included as part of the planning process for their child at every stage. Your young person's choices about their future may change during their teenage years and so their aspirations and outcomes should be reviewed each year at their EHCP Annual Review meeting and amended as needed, so that the Plan always accurately reflects their wishes and the planning that is needed for the future life that they want. Ask the SENCO at your child's school or college how they are going to be looking at preparing your young person for adulthood from their Year 9 Annual Review? How will they be including your child's views and wishes about their future life within their EHCP? If your child receives social care support (short breaks and respite provision), who from children's social care will be attending or contributing to your child's Annual Reviews from year 9? Have any key health professionals that your child sees been invited to contribute to the Review? If you feel that your child's EHCP or their Annual Review does not include the Preparing for Adulthood focus that it should, you can contact the EHC Team

You can also contact your local SEND advice service for help and support: SENDIASS hfd@sendiass.co.uk You will find more information about SENDIASS and the help that they can offer in the section below.

More information about EHCP Annual Reviews from Year 9: Key-Topics-Annual-Review.pdf (ndti.org.uk)

Year-9-Annual-Review-Guide.pdf (ndti.org.uk)

Annual reviews in Year 9 and beyond

(IPSEA) Independent Provider of Special Education Advice What is an Education, Health and Social Care (EHC) plan? (updated 2019) (youtube.com)

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Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS)

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Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS)

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SENDIASS is a free information, advice and support service that can help with issues related to Special Educational Needs and disability.

They can help by offering you: confidential support and someone to talk to in confidence information and advice

about:

Special Educational Needs support in the education setting

Education health and care (EHC) needs assessment process EHC plans and annual reviews

Appealing to the SEND tribunal Exclusion processes listen to your views and concerns work with you to explore your options help you prepare for meetings support you to find the confidence to express your views work in partnership with education settings, the local authority and other services to develop positive relationships

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Introduction to the Information Advice and Support Service

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What should happen before, during and after my Child`s EHCP Annual Review?

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What should happen before, during and after my Child`s EHCP Annual Review?

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Find more help here:

AR timetable.cleancopy. nal.pdf (councilfordisabledchildren.org.uk)

ARfactsheets.general.cleancopy.FINAL_0.pdf (councilfordisabledchildren.org.uk)

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Education, Health and Care Plan Annual Review Animation

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Person-centred planning should put the young person and their families at the centre of any decisions that are made. Every decision should be based on the young person's wishes and hopes for their future and on the things that actually make life worth living for them. What good support actually looks like for the young person should be clearly understood by everyone involved in their care and support, whether this is at school or college, at leisure or community activities, or at health settings like GP surgeries, hospitals or clinics. Personalisation in Social Care: What is personalisation ( youtube.com ) NHS Personalised Care Model: NHS England » Comprehensive model of personalised care should this look like for my child or young person?

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The EHC plan and The Person Centred Connection (updated 2019)

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The SEND Code of Practice explains what support the local authority and schools/pre-schools/colleges must provide for children and young people with special educational needs or disabilities at any age from birth to 25 years. The guidance describes how and when a child is assessed for an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) and what support this Plan should provide for them. Chapter 8 of the SEND Code of Practice sets out what different professionals across education, health and social care should be doing to help your child prepare for adulthood.

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School Transport: helping your child get to and from school

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School Transport: helping your child get to and from school

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Local authorities have a duty to provide transport to and from school for some pupils with special educational needs or disabilities where, because of their disabilities, the normal statutory walking distances do not apply. Whether the local authority has to provide school transport will depend on your child's age, the school they attend, and what their particular needs and difficulties are.

Applications for school transport can be made annually, and give you the opportunity to provide evidence to show why your child needs school transport even if they live within the statutory walking distances (under age 8 this is 2 miles; age 8 to 16 is 3 miles)

IPSEA Independent Provider of Special Education Advice Children of compulsory school age (aged 5 to 16)

If you live within the statutory walking distance but you think that your child or young person's special educational needs mean that they need help to get to school, you can find more information and apply for school transport for your child here:

School and college transport – Herefordshire Council

Transport: Children of compulsory school age (aged 5 to 16)

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(IPSEA) Independent Provider of Special Education Advice

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Transport: Children of compulsory school age (aged 5 to 16)

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LAs are required to arrange free, suitable, home to school transport for children of compulsory school age who are ‘eligible’, to their nearest suitable qualifying school

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Transport to school, for children up to the age of 16

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Transport to school, for children up to the age of 16

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This statutory guidance explains when local authorities have to provide transport to help children get to and from school. It includes details about what help should be provided for children with special educational needs or disabilities (see pages 11-15)

Travel to school for children of compulsory school age

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Annual health checks People with learning disabilities can often have more difficulties with their physical and mental health, and may struggle to get the healthcare that they need.

Everyone over the age of 14 who has a learning disability should be on their GP's Learning Disability Register and be invited to a annual health check each year.

Annual health checks help people with learning disabilities to have any health needs recognised early so they are more likely to get the support and treatment quickly when they need it.

Annual health checks can also help people with disabilities and their families to have a closer relationship with their local GP or Disability Nurse, and know who to go to when they have questions or concerns about their physical or mental health.

You can ask for your young person to be added to the Learning Disability Register at their local GP surgery so they will then be invited to a health check each year.

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Charlotte's annual health check and health action plan

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Routes into Work Guide - NDTi

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This guide provides information about options for young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) to help them move into paid employment.

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Training & Learning - Landau

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Landau Training and Enterprise division is aimed at learners from as young as 14, the provision aims to bridge the gap between school and vocational education. We are a stepping stone for those that need the time to develop and gain independence.

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SENDIASS Easy read guidance | Worcestershire County Council

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SENDIASS Easy read guidance | Worcestershire County Council

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‘Easy read’ is our way of presenting information in an accessible, in an easy to understand format.

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Preparing for Adulthood: All Tools & Resources - NDTi

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Preparing for Adulthood: All Tools & Resources - NDTi

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Great stories and discussions where inclusion really works helping us to learn from each other and to try and build a more inclusive society for all children and young people.

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Preparing for adulthood – Herefordshire Council

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Preparing for adulthood – Herefordshire Council

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Preparing for adulthood for young people with special educational needs and disabilities

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SENDIASS guidance preparing for adulthood | Worcestershire County Council

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SENDIASS guidance preparing for adulthood | Worcestershire County Council

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Preparing for adulthood (PfA) simply means preparing children and young people for adult life.

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person's mental health difficulties

Young people with learning disabilities can be more likely to struggle with mental health difficulties such as anxiety and depression. Sometimes these mental health symptoms and difficulties can be incorrectly attributed to their learning disabilities. If you have any concerns about your child's mental health you can contact the Children and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) using the links below.

The following guidance explains what mental health support should be available for people with disabilities:

Mental health problems

| Information for the public

| Mental health problems in people with YouTube

prevention, assessment and management Guidance

| NICE mental-health-problems-in-people-with-learning disabilities-what-care-you-should-expect-easy read-version-2612226638 (nice.org.uk)

Recommendations

Mental health problems in people with learning disabilities: prevention, assessment and management | Guidance | NICE

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Bank accounts for children and teenagers

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Bank accounts for children and teenagers

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Supporting your child to open a bank account can be easier when they are legally still a child and under the age of 16. Before a child reaches 16, parents and carers are usually able to apply online for their child and can help manage the account on their behalf without needing any additional legal status to be able to do so.

Many banks will automatically change a child account into an adult account when the child reaches 18.

Once your child has turned 18 (and 16 in some cases) they are legally an adult and so will need to be able to communicate with the bank themselves to be able to open their own account.

Opening a bank account on their behalf can usually only be done if you have a financial Deputyship in place for them (more about that later in this guide). Having their own bank account will allow your young person to receive their own income or benefits in their own name when they become adults, and can help them to begin learning how to manage their own money, use their own debit card or use a cash machine.

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Bank accounts for children and teenagers

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Personal Budgets for Education and Social Care

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Personal Budgets for Education and Social Care

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A Personal Budget is an amount of money which is given to an individual or their family carers to enable them to find and pay for their own support. A Personal Budget can pay for the support that your child needs to help them achieve some of the educational or social care outcomes listed within their EHC Plan. It is money that is paid instead of (not as well as) some other services that your child might overwise use. This money does not affect other benefits and is not means-tested for those under age 18.

Personal Budgets were introduced to give young people and their families more control over the kind of support that they receive. Personal Budgets can YouTube Personal Budgets – allow you as parents and carers to make the decisions about what support is best for your child's preferences and lifestyle, who provides it and how it is provided, rather than these decisions being made for your child and family by other professionals. A Personal Budget is not designed to replace all of the services that your child might need, but it can replace some of them, to give you the freedom and exibility to tailor the support that they need. Personal budgets might pay for support workers or personal assistants, special equipment or adaptations, activity costs or transport into the community

Any young person with an EHC Plan, or their parents or carers, can ask Herefordshire Council to prepare a personal budget for them.

Personal Budgets are not compulsory and you are not obligated to accept the personal budget just because you have asked for one to be created.

The Council will first prepare a draft budget that should show an amount of money that is sufficient to cover the cost of the support needed to help your child meet the relevant outcome(s) within their EHC Plan.

The draft budget is only a starting point and will only be finalised once everyone is satisfied that it can meet the needs of your child. Once agreed, the money that is put into the child's Personal Budget can be managed by the local authority or by the family themselves.

If the family is paid the money and manages it themselves, this is usually done via a regular monthly payment which is called a Direct Payment. Sometimes the Local Authority might not agree to a Personal Budget; but if this is the case they must tell you why.

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Personal Health Budgets can help those with long term health conditions to pay for care at home, or to buy equipment, or to participate in activities that help them stay as well as possible.

More information about who qualifies for a Personal Health Budget can be found here: Personal Health Budgets - BLMK Integrated Care Board (icb.nhs.uk)

PHB-easy-read-nal-version-6.pdf (england.nhs.uk) on-6.pdf

What is a personal health budget? - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

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Some young people with disabilities may find attending the dentist very challenging. Every local area provides dental clinics for children and adults with learning disabilities or mental health difficulties who struggle to access dental care at a normal dentist. Most of these special dental clinics will accept referrals from your regular dentist or from your GP.

You can ask your regular dentist, GP or other healthcare professional to refer your child to your local specialist dentist, or contact 03332 074002 cds.referrals@nhs.net

How to find an NHS dentist - NHS

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Disabled Facilities Grant for children and young people

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Disabled Facilities Grant for children and young people

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Some children and young people may need adaptations to their home to allow them to stay safe and be supported properly. A disabled facilities grant may be able to cover the cost of these adaptations. This grant is not means tested if the young person is under the age of 19. Adaptations may be needed because of a young person's physical or intellectual disabilities. If you feel you need adaptations to your home, you can apply for a Disabled Facilities Grant by contacting:

Disabled Facilities Grants: Overview - GOV.UK

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What should happen for my child when they reach age 14?

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What should happen for my child when they reach age 14?

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From age 14 (year 9 onwards), your young person should always be asked about their wishes and aspirations for their future life as a teenager and as an adult. All of the support that they receive at school or college, from health services, or from social care, should focus on helping to prepare them to achieve the things that are important to them in adulthood. Any plans being made with them or for them must be focused around their wishes, aspirations or ambitions for the future, and should be designed to help them get ready to live the life that they want as an adult

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Employment (incl. transport assistance)

A major step for a young person on their path towards adulthood can be moving into post-16 education, higher education or leaving school altogether. The information in these sections will help you understand the support your young person can receive when moving on to college or into supported employment or other training. It will highlight what options and support are available for post-16 education, training or work. These sections will also help explain whether a young person can get help with transport to school, college or training after the ages of 16 and 18.

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Leaving children's health services and having to get to know new adult health professionals, departments and services can be daunting. These sections highlight what health services should be doing and when, to help children move from children's to adult health services without their being any gap in their care. The information in these sections is about getting the right help and support to manage physical and mental health conditions and disabilities in adulthood.

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Moving into adulthood is also about moving from children's social care into adult social care, and how the eligibility for care and support changes at age 18. These sections will explain what support your young person might receive for daily-living and leisure activities (outside of school, college or other education) as they get older and move into adulthood. This information aims to help you understand what social care support a young person might get after age 18 and who provides this. It will help you understand how the role of family caregivers can change when your child turns 18, and what your new rights as their carer are. It will explain the eligibility criteria for adult support and how and when your child can be assessed for getting the support that they need as an adult.

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This information is about entitlement to bene ts and help with managing nances as an adult. This section highlights how bene ts can change after age 16, and after age 18. It will explain what contribution adults who are receiving social care support may have to pay towards the cost of this care. These sections also explain what extra nancial help may be available at colleges or university for young people and young adults with SEND.

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Look for these sections to find out about support to help your young person move out of home and live independently. It will help you understand the different housing and support options that are available for younger adults, and how to go about finding the right independent living setting for your young person.