A concerned mum wants plans for new care charges to be scrapped as she fears her daughter could become socially isolated.

Almost 650 people have backed a petition from Tracey Campbell which asks health chiefs in East Renfrewshire to drop the proposed roll-out of £20 per hour fees for non-residential social care.

The Netherlee mum, whose daughter Leia, 18, has Angelman syndrome and needs 24-hour support, said the treatment of people with disabilities is “appalling”.

Charges would be introduced from April next year and could impact up to 1,000 residents. They would cover services like meal preparation and support at home.

It is hoped they would raise £1.5m at a time when services are facing “unprecedented” financial pressures. 

Leia receives a self-directed support budget which is “mainly spent on support workers to keep her safe”, her mum said. Activities like cinema visits are “a lifeline in her battle against social isolation” but they are “under threat”.

The petition stated: “This proposal would potentially strip away 60 per cent of an affected individual’s disposable income, making it almost impossible for them to participate in much-needed social activities.”

One of Leia’s hobbies is horse riding, which helps with anxiety as being with the horses keeps her “regulated and calm”. But her mum said she won’t be able to go as much if the charges are introduced.

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Tracey is concerned about the impact on her daughter’s mental health.

She added: “People want to care for their children and loved ones… but they can’t keep putting pressure on people until they break.”

She said a £1.5m savings target is “a drop in the ocean for the council” and the money should be found outwith the health and social care budget. 

Tracey added parents and carers have had a “disappointing” response from councillors, with the plan feeling like “a done deal” already. It has been argued that those affected should have been consulted, rather than just parents and carers.

Members of the area’s integration joint board — a partnership between the council and NHS which directs health and social care services (HSCP) — will be asked to recommend the new charge to the council’s cabinet at a meeting on Thursday.

Cabinet members would then meet on December 5 to decide whether to approve the proposal. Current charges could also increase, with proposals to raise the price of lunch club meals, room hire and a holiday support programme.

A spokeswoman for East Renfrewshire’s HSCP said: “This is a difficult proposal and one we have spent many years working to avoid.

“We acknowledge that the timeframe has been challenging, but we are committed to listening to and involving people with lived experience.”

She said around 300 people had been consulted and feedback from those events, plus emails and a survey will be shared with cabinet members and inform the final proposal. Two more consultation sessions are planned on Monday, November 25.

The spokeswoman added: “If the policy is approved, our hope is to work with individuals, families, carers and our wide range of partners to minimise the impact of this change.”

Charges would be based on the ability to pay, with financial assessments carried out.

Officials have reported some “funding may flow through to health and social care in Scotland” following the recent UK budget, but the impact is not yet known. The Scottish Government is expected to reveal its budget on December 4.

A ‘supporting people framework’ has already been rolled out in East Renfrewshire due to funding pressures. It means social care is only provided to those in “substantial or critical” need. 

Residents with low or moderate needs are referred to support in the community, such as charities and other third sector groups.