SEND local offer - Personal budgets

The 4 ways in which a personal budget can be managed are:

• direct cash payments to the parent or young person to contract, purchase and manage the service they need directly
• an organised arrangement where the council or health provider keeps the funds and buys or provides the support set up in the EHC plan
• a third-party managed budget where an organisation or individual, that has been chosen by the parent or carer or young person, can contract, purchase and manage services on their behalf 
• a combination of direct cash, organised arrangements and third-party budget management

In some circumstances, usually identified through the assessment process, the choice of taking a personal budget as a direct payment may not be available.  This could be in relation to safeguarding concerns, issues around consent or both.