Personal Budget/Direct Payments OT

[Whattodo123445]

Going into an early review of EHCP in Jan and also having a private OT assessment. I'm hoping and suspect they will suggest ongoing OT sessions. DC also does weekly Play Therapy sessions.

I'd like to try and get at least the OT funded via his EHCP, as I'm currently off sick from work due to everything with DCs needs and I don't think I'll be able to return to my previous hours.

DC gets DLA which is currently funding Play Therapy and a few extras i.e sensory equipment/private reports etc but OT sessions would have to come from us otherwise.

Aside from the OT report, how can I prepare best to try and get this funded? What other evidence can I provide? There are mentions of hyperactivity and sensory defensiveness within section F of his current EHCP but his objectives do not mention anything sensory related, more expanding his focus, attention and toileting needs (which are reported as enteroceptive issues by paeds gastro).

I believe if I ask for a direct payment I have a right to appeal, but not for a personal budget. Is this correct?

Thanks

A good OT report should cover needs, provision and outcomes. If the report is good (does the OT you are using have SENDIST experience?) it should be enough to adequately amend the EHCP to include OT provision. Although the LA may force you to appeal to SENDIST, I’m afraid. For the play therapy, an ed psych and/or a clinical psychologist could help provide evidence. The OT report could back up the needs/provision too. Again, in order to get it detailed, specified and quantified, this is something the LA may force you to appeal for.

Direct payments are one way a personal budget can be funded. You can’t appeal section J (the personal budget section) of the EHCP via SENDIST.

As part of the review process you can request a personal budget. However, there are some situations where LAs can refuse. This includes when the provison is funded as part of a larger budget and cannot be disaggregated. Sometimes OT falls into the bracket. For example, in cases where LAs commission the NHS or another provider to provide the e.g. OT in their LA and it would be an inefficient use of resources to separate out funding. It depends on the LA and the individual DC’s provision (sometimes even where LAs commission a particular service the provider can’t provide the SEP some DC need e.g. where the EHCP stipulates an OT who is a sensory integration advanced practitioner but the NHS who the LA commission doesn’t have someone who is).