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Bryan Carroll
Member - 2 posts
General:
How far are we (Southampton Istitute) expected to pay for personel items for students with disabilities?
Detail:
The case we have is a serverly disbled student requires a special bed costing £4k. The bed is made to measure and therefore unlikely to to be used again. Other similar students are providing their own beds from their local social services. We have also been asked to provide shower chairs/ desks and other like items. Hoists have been fitted but slings are to be provided by the student (at least at the moment).
We provide a standard bed/desk for all students.
Thank you.
Chez Stewart
Senoir Residences Manager
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Clive Read
Member - 6 posts
Chez
My initial reaction would be that the Institute would need to look at the costs issues and see whether there is justification for not providing a bed at such an additional cost where there is no realistic prospect of that bed being used by anyone else. This would appear to be relevant given the provision of other beds by social services. You'd need to check the factors under s 28T of the Act eg - financial resources; grant available to students (is one available here?); costs (£4k does seem to be a great expense for a bed that will effectively be used for 40 weeks or so). Para 6.10 of the education code makes it clear that there are no hard and fast rules but you're already aware that those organiations with bigger pockets will have far less justification for refusing to do something than poorer ones.
I have looked through the service provider and education provider codes and although the service provider code gives an interesting example at para 7.24 referring to the additional cost of making a special bed being passed onto the user there is then the caveat that this shouldn't be passed on merely because of the need to make a reasonable adjustment. The education code gives examples at paras 6.8 - 6.12 where costs will come into play.
If the Instutite feels they do not want to be put to the cost of providing such a speacial bed, is there any merit in seeing if the student's bed at their exsting home could be transported to the Institute while they are studying with you? Is there any way in which arrangements could be made to accommodate this as a means of a changed practice eg - Institute paying for removal at given times during the term on notice and then at the end of each term? That might be one way round the need to provide a brand new bed.
Please call me if you wish to discuss on 0121 678 1439
Regards
Clive Read
Partner
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