Children and Young People
Information Guides
Disabled Students in Further Education and Higher Education
Children and Young People:Frequently Asked Questions
Through our helpline we receive enquiries spanning a wide range of different topics. Here is a selection of those most asked:
Council Help for Disabled People
Scottish councils have responsibilities to help disabled people and their carers who qualify for help. These include:
- Financial help
- Care needs assessments for disabled people
- Providing support for carers
- Blue Badges
- Safeguarding people who are at risk of harm
Financial help
Councils are responsible for providing financial help, including
- Housing benefit – help with rent for people over State Pension age and for some younger people in special circumstances Claim Housing Benefit – mygov.scot
- Means-tested and non means-tested help with council tax costs Working out your council tax – mygov.scot
- Lump sum payments from the Scottish Welfare Fund; Crisis Grants (usually food, energy, or heating) or Community Care Grants to help people stay in, or settle into the community. https://www.mygov.scot/scottish-welfare-fund
Social work departments have powers to help with “Section 12” payments, for adults or children in an emergency if this would save the council costs in future. They can also make payments to promote the welfare of children in need.
Councils must also have a Housing “scheme of assistance” that may give information, advice, grants, loans, and practical assistance to homeowners or, to private tenants who need disability adaptations. https://scotland.shelter.org.uk/professional_resources/legal/housing_conditions/scheme_of_assistance
Most council areas will have a Care and Repair service that will provide advice and help to older people and (in some areas) disabled people who are homeowners or private tenants. Find your local service here Office Locations | Care and Repair Scotland
Care needs assessments for disabled people
If you are disabled, your council’s social work department (or in Highland, NHS Highland) can assess your care needs, and agree a care plan to support you. The help you receive may include equipment, adaptations to your home, care at home, day care or a care home. Any help you receive that is classed as “personal care” is free.
You should be offered a choice in how your care is provided; this is called Self-directed support. Your options within your budget form the council are:
- 1 – a direct payment to you or someone else (such as a care agency) to pay for your own support
- 2 – you arrange the support
- 3 – the local council arranges the support
- 4 – a mix of the above
Support for carers
The Carers (Scotland) Act gives carers a right to support from their local council. A carer is anyone who is not paid for their caring and looks after a friend, family member or neighbour who is disabled. You do not have to be caring for a specific number of hours to be a carer.
Your local Carers Centre can explain what help is available locally. Any help a carer received from their local council is free. Find your local Carers Centre here https://www.careinfoscotland.scot/topics/support-for-carers/carer-centres/ and find out more about carers rights here https://www.careinfoscotland.scot/topics/support-for-carers/
Blue Badges
A Blue Badges provides parking concessions for on-street parking, some car parks, and disabled parking bays, allowing badge holders to park close to where they need to go
A Blue Badge belongs to a person, not a vehicle, so they can travel as a driver or a passenger. Find out more about Blue Badges here: https://www.mygov.scot/apply-blue-badge/eligibility
Protecting people who are at risk of harm
Councils have powers under the Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007 to protect adults who cannot look after their own safety and security and are at risk of harm because of disability, mental disorder, illness, physical or mental infirmity, sexual harm or institutional harm.
“Harm” means injury or damage and includes self-harm, neglect and abuse.
Councils and other public services (such as Police) will work together to support people. You can find out more here https://www.gov.scot/policies/social-care/adult-support-and-protection/
If you are worried that someone at risk of harm, you can find your local social work department here
Contact your council
You can find details of your council and its services here Organisations – mygov.scot
How can I get a RADAR key?
The National Key Scheme (NKS), often referred to as RADAR keys, offers disabled people independent access to locked public accessible toilets around the country. You can buy from Disability Rights UK either over the phone or through their website.
You can also purchase RADAR keys through some chemists and online.
For further information see our Accessible Toilets information guide or the Disability Rights UK website.
Call the Disability Information Scotland helpline on: 0300 323 9961
Children and Young People:Search for Local Organisations
Our quick search tool can connect you to over 3000 service providers, suppliers and organisations supporting people across Scotland. To find support near you, simply enter your search term and select your local authority.
| Organisation | Description |
|---|---|
| St Andrew’s Children’s Society | St Andrew’s Children’s Society is an adoption and fostering agency. It was formed in 1922 and we have been helping children find safe and loving homes for over 100 years. We have an office in Edinburgh and another in Aberdeen. We offer our adoption and… |
| St Magnus Centre | Accessible venue hire in Orkney |
| STAF – Scottish Throughcare and Aftercare Forum | Aims: To improve support for young people leaving care, by sharing good practice, creating networks and influencing local and national developments. Services provided: Staf is a membership organisation open to all those who have Corporate Parenting res… |
| Stage Captions | Live Captioning – real-time subtitling of meetings, conferences and events with text displayed on laptop, large screen or streamed direct to the client’s tablet or mobile phone. The service can be delivered on-site, remotely or to online and in-person… |
| Stagetext | Aims: To provide captioning services for deaf, deafened and hard of hearing people who wish to enjoy arts and entertainment. Services provided: Offering: Captioning for theatre productions, and live subtitling comedy and talks, similar to television su… |
| Stairlift Costs | We created the Stairlift Costs UK website so that you can get clear and independent information on Stairlifts in the UK. There are many types of stairlifts in the UK, from curved stairlifts, straight stairlifts, narrow stairs stairlifts, and outdoor st… |
| Stairlift Experts | Established in 2010, Stairlift Experts have helped 1000’s of people buy a new or reconditioned stairlift to help them regain their independence within their home. Our service aims to provide the best value, which is why we have a whole-of-market offeri… |
| Stairlift Locations | Your go-to source for locating the ideal stairlift for your needs. Discover top-quality brands, read reviews, and get personalised quotes. Enhance your home’s accessibility with us. At StairliftLocations.co.uk, our mission is to provide reliable and co… |
| Stanmore House School- Capability Scotland | A Specialist school for day and residential pupils aged 3-18 who have complex and additional support needs. |
| Stewarton Area Centre | Accessible venue hire in East Ayrshire |
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