 |
 |
Thanks Heather. Interesting implications from a wider perspective - currently, most (all??) Social Services Depts (SSDs) take a disabled person's welfare benefits into account when setting up care packages, i.e. they are expected to pay towards personal assistance. If this could be deemed a reasonable adjustment, are SSDs in breach of the legislation? Would the DRC like to comment on this? Sue Sue Green Disability Co-ordinator Disability Team 3 Elms Road University of Birmingham UK Tel. 0121 4145130 www.sscs.bham.ac.uk/disability -----Original Message----- From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Heather Griffiths Sent: 28 August 2007 12:46 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: costs for carers accommodation Thank you to all who have responded on this one. It is an interesting situation. It seems that the DRC are advising that it is illegal to charge for the carers room on the basis of the following paragraph in their code. "A disabled person is not required to contribute to the cost of a reasonable adjustment, therefore an educaton provider should not charge a student for any reasonable adjustments." (P 5.53 in consultation doc, not sure what number in revised code of practice). Apparantly some Universities in the Brighton and East sussex areas have decided not to charge for carers accommodation on this basis. The general pattern around the country, however is that the cost of the carers accommodation is covered by social services or by direct payments. Should the DRC be asked to pursue this matter, then it could become part of a test case which could determine for the future which party (Social Services/Direct payments or Universities) are responsible for bearing the cost of carers accommodation! Watch this space! ________________________________ From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff. on behalf of Julie Davenport Sent: Wed 22/08/2007 10:58 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: costs for carers accommodation Hello Heather Ive been successful in obtaining Social Services funding for the carer room 3 times this year so far. We already have an existing 2 care packages in place also. Various areas. Regards Julie Davenport Disability Advisor Dart The University's Disability Service University of Lincoln Tel: 01522 886400 Fax: 01522 886489 Minicom: 01522 886055 -----Original Message----- From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Heather Griffiths Sent: 21 August 2007 17:06 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: costs for carers accommodation Dear all I'm aware that this has been debated in the past, but am interested in current thinking. We have a student coming in in the Autumn who needs a room for a carer. Their Social Services are saying that they will not pay the cost of the carers accommodation if it is considered "illegal" to charge for the carers accommodation. The DRC is apparantly advising the parent that it is illegal for us to be charging for the carer's accommodation! Has anyone else come across this recently? Are social services in your area paying the cost of carer's accommodation? A speedy response would be appreciated. Many thanks Heather Griffiths Newman College of HE, Birmingham