What is Self Directed Support?

Self Directed Support (SDS) is about putting people in control of the support they need to live the life they choose. It is how health and social care support has been delivered since April 2014 and is underpinned by legislation giving you the right to choose your own care and support. This legislation is Social Care (Self-directed Support) (Scotland) Act 2013.

You can choose care or support in a number of different ways. Needs are assessed in terms of outcomes and goals along with meeting eligibility criteria. This usually begins as a conversation with a social worker.

For example, as an outcome you may want help at home each day with washing, dressing and taking medication. The goal would be to enable you to live at home independently. Through SDS you can choose to arrange this in different ways.

SDS offers four options:

Option 1

is for you, or someone on your behalf to take on responsibility for both the management of your budget and the choice of services. This is known as a direct payment, and usually works by you employing a Personal Assistant or purchasing support from an organisation.

Option 2

is for your local authority or another organisation to take responsibility for financial management of your budget, while you choose what services it is spent on.

Option 3

is for the local authority to arrange a service on your behalf taking on all responsibility for identifying and commissioning services.

Option 4

allows you to mix and match the first three options. For example you could choose a Direct Payment to organise care at home and attend a day centre organised by the local authority under option three.

A list of useful contacts and resources are listed below:

There will be differences in each local authority (Edinburgh and Midlothian).

Please refer to the local authority for the person requiring assessment.

Useful links (Edinburgh and Midlothian)

• Free personal care for under 65’s
• Information on a Section 23 assessment for children
• SDS Scotland Information on adult carer support plans and accessing SDS as a carer
• COCIS Information on adult carer support plans and accessing SDS as a carer
• LCIL list of SDS resources

LCIL The Lothian centre for inclusive living have an independent living team who can provide one-to-one support to manage your own Self Directed Support package including personal assistants. You can reach them on – 0131 475 2350 or through their website. LCIL have compiled a list of private nursing and care providers in Edinburgh and Lothian. This can be provided on request

Self Directed Support Scotland represents organisations run by and for disabled people, their members support thousands of people across Scotland with their social care choices. They have lots of useful information on their website.

Care Sourcer is a comparison and matching site for care.  Anyone can enter their care needs on their website and find care providers who have availability. You can reach them on – 0800 048 8618 or through their website.