Self Directed Support (SDS)

Our fSDC SDS Group, invite Members to get involved and let them know about your experience of SDS, the good, the bad and the indifferent.

You will all be aware that SDS is enshrined in law as the new way to deliver social care and support. The fundamental principles of SDS are choice and control, where people are able to choose how they live their life, where they live and what they do.

Our members of the group are hearing lots of stories about how SDS is working in practice. How can we contribute to ensure that it works as it was intended.  We have some anecdotal evidence that raises questions and concerns including;

• How much is the backdrop of public finance savings undermining the shift to SDS? How much accuracy is there in the perception that the primary objective is to make savings rather than improve choice and control?
• Is this requirement to make savings leading to an eligibility criteria for services where provision is provided only at the ‘critical’ or ‘substantial’ levels of risk, thus undermining the policy intention to promote preventative services?
• How much involvement is there of families in working with the local authorities to design and influence developments in their area?
• Is there a lack of resources and capacity building for community led preventative services?
• Is there a robust performance and evaluation strategy to monitor implementation of SDS and the impact of the changes?
• How are the organisations supporting the implementation of SDS and the deployment of resources being co-ordinated?

Currently the Alliance have produced a leaflet on rights, Community Care Providers Scotland are developing eligibility criteria, Self-Directed Support Scotland provide support to user led organisations, and Children in Scotland SDS report highlighted issues including the lack of information and advocacy for families. This report was recently submitted to Scottish Government.  Other organisations including In Control Scotland have received funds from Scottish Government for a further three years to promote SDS in practice.

We need a full picture of these activities in order to have an overview of activity, effectiveness and gaps.  We aim to map activity and gather evidence, but we need to coordinate and avoid duplication of effort and that is the reason we are asking for your involvement.

If you would like to join our group on SDS please email shirley@keystoinclusion.co.uk  or phone 07723408764.
Shirley Cusack fSDC Cor-ordination Group member and lead of SDS Group. Keys to Inclusion