Self-Directed Support
What is Self-Directed Support?
Self-Directed Support (SDS) is a personalised approach to social care delivery which promotes choice, control, and flexibility to improve the quality of life for supported individuals and unpaid carers. The Social Care (Self-Directed Support) (Scotland) Act 2013 aims to promote the personalisation of social care in Scotland and is underpinned throughout the legislation by a human rights approach.
Who is eligible for Self-Directed Support?
Supported individuals of all ages (including older people), young carers, and unpaid adult carers (where the local authority assesses that the carer needs a break from their caring responsibilities) who meet the local eligibility criteria to receive funded care and support.
What options are available for how care is managed?
The 2013 Act requires assessors to offer people who have been assessed as being eligible for funded care and support 4 SDS options. This includes people at the point of hospital discharge and those in receipt of housing support. Consideration must be given to the degree of choice and control the supported person wishes to have over their social care arrangements. The options should be available to all but imposed on none.
- SDS Option 1 - The individual is fully accountable and responsible for arranging their own care and support and managing the direct payment. This includes identifying a care provider or employing their own staff. Support with such arrangements can be provided by Age Scotland Orkney. Details of this service are provided in the Contacts section below.
- SDS Option 2 - Responsibility for sourcing and arranging their own care and support from a care provider or an overnight short break without the responsibility of managing the funding.
- SDS Option 3 - A traditional commissioned service with less choice and control over how the care and support is provided.
- SDS Option 4 - A mix of some or all the above.
How can I request an assessment under SDS?
This can be done by contacting the Adult Social Work Team. The duty worker is available between 09:00 and 13:00, Monday to Friday on 01856-873535. Ask for the Adult Services duty worker.
If you already have a social worker, they will talk to you about an assessment under SDS when you are due for a review or require an updated assessment.
If the immediate situation requires care and support to be provided urgently, a basic assessment will be done initially to ensure the necessary support is provided. When the situation is more stable work can start on a fuller assessment under SDS.
Contacts
Duty Worker, Adult Social Work Team
Orkney Health and Care, Orkney Islands Council, Council Offices, Kirkwall, KW15 1NY.
Telephone: 01856-873535.
Age Scotland Orkney
Email: directpayments@agescotlandorkney.org.uk
Tel. 01856 872438
Age Scotland Orkney provide the following services to support adults and their carers/legal proxies who have opted for a direct payment under SDS option 1:
- Advertising and recruitment
- Advice on appropriate insurance
- Advice on relevant training
- Payroll, tax and National Insurance
- Contracts, job descriptions, health and safety at work policy
