THE mother of a disabled teenager who fears her son will be forced into a care home has lost a High Court battle with Worcestershire County Council.

After a bitterly fought judicial review, a judge has decided the council can all-but scrap at-home care for vulnerable adults.

The authority wants to save £500,000 over four years by no longer automatically offering disabled adults 24-hour support in their own homes.

Instead, cheaper alternatives will be made available, which could involve being placed in ‘cluster’ style flats or even moved to a care home.

A Worcestershire mum, who cannot be named for legal reasons, took the council to court in May saying it would force her son, 17, into care against his wishes.

The teen, who has epilepsy, Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and learning disabilities, turns 18 this year, at which the point the policy kicks in.

Judge Justice Hickinbottam, sitting at the High Court in London, has rejected an attempt to scrap the policy.

But he did say the council will “have to take into account its own policy objectives of giving disabled individuals control and choice” over their lives.

The judge also insisted nobody should be “forced into living in residential care” as a result of the changes, but decided he could not insist it be scrapped.

Anne Clarke, interim head of adult social care at the county council, said: “We are pleased the judgement has come down in our favour and we will now be working to implement the policy.

“We are always aware of our duties to fully consult on any major changes to policy and ensure we have due regard to our equalities duties and the judge has agreed that we have done both.”

The teen’s mother has reacted to the verdict by saying she is “disappointed” with the outcome.

“We brought this case because we wanted to ensure that not only will my son be protected from going into residential care, but also to help others who may be forced into a similar situation in future,” she said.

“The judge has accepted the council’s assurances that our concerns are not valid and I can only hope that over the coming months and years, the council will show us that the judge was right in reaching this view.”

CUTS TO DISABLED CARE - FACTFILE

THE council say around 2,000 people currently get disabled care packages in Worcestershire, costing £11 million.

Some need very basic services but others require intensive around-the-clock support - and the bill is rising.

Care ranges from help washing and dressing, all the way up to the most expensive user in the county, who cost £232,000 to support last year.

Under the change, known as the Maximum Expenditure Policy, the cuts will apply to all new service users, and existing users with escalating needs.

For these groups, at-home care will generally be avoided in favour of a less expensive option.

The number of new ‘customers’ vary year to year, but it has been known to climb to well over 60 every 12 months.

At-home care will still be available when families are prepared to part fund it, or for current users whose needs stay the same.

The council say it is currently working on a date for when the new policy will kick in by following today's court ruling.