A personal budget is an amount of money identified to deliver provision set out in an Education, Health and Care plan (EHCP) where the parent or young person is involved in securing that provision. This must be agreed by the local authority for education and care support, and by the health authority for the health provision.

Personal Budgets are optional for the child’s parent or the young person but local authorities are under a duty to consider a personal budget when requested. Personal budgets are typically provided where universal or targeted provision is not available to meet the child or young person’s needs. 

The child’s parent or the young person can either request the personal budget as a direct payment (while still choosing how their care needs are met and by whom) or leave the Council with the responsibility to buy the services on their behalf.  People can also choose to go with a combination of the two.  As a result, personal budgets provide a potentially good option for people who do not want to take on the responsibilities of a direct payment. 

If you have an EHCP and wish to find out more, please contact Torbay SEND team.