Social care

[normanprice62]

My son is 15 and I am beginning to think about the future. Currently we do not have social care involved as its not something I feel is needed, we deal with his needs without issue.

When he turns 18 he will lack capacity to make important legal decisions, he does have significant needs. What I'd like some advice on is how this will work with social care. Do I need to contact them when he turns 18? Is it better for me to contact them whilst he still a child?

We currently home educate, he does have an ehcp. Will this trigger a social care assessment nearer the time?

Any advice would be very much appreciated.

An EHCP and EHE won’t automatically trigger a social care assessment. Although the ARs should look at preparation for adulthood.

I would request social care assessments now. An assessment by the disabled children’s team for DS and a carer’s assessment for you. On their website, Contact has model letters you can use. Then nearer 18, there should be an assessment to establish the needs DS will have on transition to adult services.

Depending on DS’s needs, you may also wish to look into children’s continuing care funding and the adult equivalent continuing health care funding.

As DS becomes an adult, you should also consider deputyship.

Thanks for the advice! That's very helpful.

Regarding deputyship, do you have any more information on this? I have read these are often turned down unless there's a disagreement regarding care arrangements?

Deputyship isn’t always just for when there is a disagreement. And in some cases deputyship won’t be granted whist there is an active disagreement. It is worth looking into, IMO.