Spending on disabled children’s services rises sharply

Council spending is set to increase on services for disabled children despite initial fears they could be vulnerable after the ending of ring-fenced budgets.

Recent Department for Educa­tion figures show that councils’ spend on equipment and home adaptations for disabled children is rising by 49% this year.

Home care will also see an increase in spending this year – by 13% – while short breaks for parents of disabled children will rise by 21%.

However, spending on direct payments is set to drop by 6%. A spokesperson for the College of Social Work said this was disappointing given the trend to greater personalisation.

Other areas councils have protected include leaving care services (up 7%) and advocacy for children in care (up 8%), while children’s social workers have attracted a 5% increase.

Although teenage pregnancy services have been cut by 25%, some of this money may have been put into family intervention projects, making comparisons difficult.

Similarly, comparisons in early intervention and prevention budgets are difficult to map because categories have changed since the 2010-11 budgets.

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