Self-directed Support Library

Use this section on The Hub to find out about Self-directed Support (SDS), Scotland’s mainstream approach to social care delivery.

Here you will find a selection of resources that explain what SDS is, the Standards for good SDS, people’s stories, assessment and support planning tools as well as resources to influence commissioning and procurement practice to make SDS truly mainstream across Scotland.

Search Tips

You may find it helpful to search using the drop down "topics" box.  You can select a topic field by checking the box.  It is best to select just one topic at a time.  You must uncheck or de-select the topic box each time otherwise you will not get accurate results.

Smiling young girl with crutch making a hot drink with a kettle tipper
Topics
  • About SDS
  • Addictions
  • Adults and Incapacity
  • Adults and older people
  • Archived Resources
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    Close × A collection of resources that reflect and record the early years of SDS implementation.
  • Assessment and Support Planning
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    Close × Includes resources to support practitioners to understand how to have good conversations and meet personal outcomes.
  • Autism
  • Black and Minority Ethnic People
  • Blind or Partially Sighted
  • Carers Assessment and Support Planning
  • Children and Families
  • Commissioning Approaches for Option 2
  • Community Based Support
  • Contingency Planning
  • Deaf or Hearing Impairment
  • Dementia
  • Easy Read
  • Eligibility and Resource Allocation
  • Employing Family Members
  • Financial Management Guidance
    ?
    Close × Guidance on the financial management of SDS for finance staff.
  • Flexible and Outcome Focused Commissioning and Procurement
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    Close × SDS Standard 7 - People and commissioners work together to plan, design and quality-assure flexible local supports, to ensure that people have choice and control over what matters to them.
  • Good Conversations
  • Housing and Homelessness
  • Independent Support and Advocacy
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    Close × SDS Standard 1 - People are offered independent advice, support and advocacy to have choice and control over their social care and support and to exercise their human rights. Includes details of SIRD organisations that are funded to provide support and challenge decisions.
  • Learning Disabilities
  • Lived Experience
    ?
    Close × Personal stories of how people have used SDS.
  • Mental Health and Wellbeing
  • PA Employers
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    Close × Information to support people who are considering employing a Personal Assistant, including how to guides and experiences of people employing PA's.
  • Personal Assistants
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    Close × Information to support Personal Assistants in their role, including how to become a Personal Assistant.
  • Pilot schemes
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    Close × Reports of pilots that have trialled an SDS approach.
  • Relationship Based Practice
  • Respite Care and Short Breaks
  • Review of support arrangements
  • Risk Enablement and Management
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    Close × SDS Standard 6 - Workers and supported people work together to plan for positive risk enablement whilst balancing the responsibility of statutory protection of children, young people, adults and carers.
  • Rural Communities
  • SDS Implementation Data Recording
    ?
    Close × SDS Standard 4 - Meaningful and measurable recording practices
  • SDS Legislation and Implementation Plans
  • SDS Standards
  • SDS Values and Principles
  • SIRD projects
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    Close × Support in the Right Direction (SIRD) Scottish Government funded projects managed by Inspiring Scotland.
  • Strength and Asset Based Approaches
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    Close × SDS Standard 3 - Assessment, support planning and review systems and processes are personalised, recognising people’s strengths, assets and existing community supports, and result in agreed personal outcomes.
  • Transitions
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    Close × SDS Standard 10 - People are given the help and support they need to plan for, and adjust to, new phases of their lives.
  • Transparency and Consistency of Practice
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    Close × SDS Standard 9 and 11 - Practice, systems and processes are clearly understood and are explained in ways that make sense to the person. People can expect a consistently high-quality experience of practice regardless of Local Authority area.
  • Workforce development - training
    ?
    Close × Includes toolkits, e-learning and guidance documents for practitioners.
View: All

Authors
SSSC

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Personal Assistant Outcomes Map

Date
01/09/2022

Category
Self-directed Support Library

The PA Outcomes Map is a product of a collaborative project with key stakeholders including PA's and PA employers to help develop a shared understanding of the value of PA's as part of the social care workforce. Mapping Resource: 4 pages.

Authors
Equality and Human Rights Commission

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Self -directed Support and Personal Outcomes

Date
15/07/2022

Research examining the experiences of people who receive Self-directed Support and the extent to which it helps them to achieve their personal outcomes. Research report, 42 pages.

Authors
Lou Close, In Control Scotland

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How are we doing with Option 2

Date
02/07/2022

Research into the experiences of six Scottish health and social care partnerships in implementing option 2 of Self-directed Support. Research report, 52 pages.

Authors
Inspiring Scotland, Scottish Government

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Support in the Right Direction Year 4 Progress Update

Date
01/07/2022

This report looks back over the last six months of the SiRD programme, from October 2021 to March 2022, highlighting the work done by the projects.

Authors
Healthcare Improvement Scotland, NDTi

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Demonstrating the Impact of Community Led Approaches

Date
01/05/2022

Category
Self-directed Support Library

A report of a short project in South Ayrshire HSCP, examining how effective current measurements and data are in capturing the impact of community led approaches to care and support. Report, 24 pages.

Authors
Dr Danielle Farrel, Your Options Understood

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Your Options Understood e-learning and education programme

Date
14/04/2022

Category
Self-directed Support Library

An e-learning platform created by Dr Danielle Farrel, founder of Your Options Understood (YOU) who has first-hand experience of living with a disability. Content includes support planning, disability awareness and Self-directed Support. Bespoke training also available.

Guidance on Self-directed Support (SDS) during the Pandemic image

Authors
Scottish Government, COSLA, Social Work Scotland

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Guidance on Self-directed Support (SDS) during the Pandemic

Date
01/03/2022

Category
Self-directed Support Library

Updated guidance on how Self-directed Support can be used flexibly during pandemic circumstances. Guidance, 17 pages.

Authors
Self-directed Support Scotland (SDSS)

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SDS Forum

Date
12/02/2022

Category
Self-directed Support Library

An online forum created by SDSS to enable members and stakeholders to come together to discuss Self-directed Support.

Authors
Inspiring Scotland, Scottish Government

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Support in the Right Direction Year 3 Progress Update - Inspiring Scotland, Scottish Government

Date
17/11/2021

A progress report from Inspiring Scotland which looks at the impact of Support in the Right Direction (SIRD) funded projects across 31 Local Authority areas. Report, 20 pages.

Authors
Care Inspectorate

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Guide for Providers on Personal Planning - Children and Young People

Date
08/11/2021

Category
Self-directed Support Library, Care Inspectorate Publication, Guidance

A guide to support managers and staff in services to develop and improve how personal plans for children and young people are undertaken

Authors
Care Inspectorate

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Guide for Providers on Personal Planning - Adults

Date
08/11/2021

Category
Self-directed Support Library, Care Inspectorate Publication, Guidance

A guide to support managers and staff in services to develop and improve how personal plans for adults are undertaken

Authors
Community Brokerage Network

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Community Brokerage Network

Date
12/10/2021

Category
Self-directed Support Library

The Community Brokerage Network work across Ayrshire to support people to access the care they need with support from independent brokers.

Authors
PA Network Scotland and Workers Educational Association (WEA)

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Personal Assistants Network Scotland

Date
12/10/2021

Category
Self-directed Support Library

A website providing networking and training opportunities for Personal Assistants.

Authors
Alliance Scotland, SDS Scotland

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My Support, My Choice People's Experiences of Self-directed Support and Social Care in Dumfries & Galloway - Alliance/SDSS

Date
01/10/2021

This report uses data collected from the My Support, My Choice research project run by Alliance Scotland and SDSS focusing on care experiences in Dumfries and Galloway. Report, 65 pages.

Authors
In-control Scotland, University of Strathclyde Humanities and Social Sciences

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Accountability and the implementation of Self-directed Support Briefing Paper - In-Control Scotland, University of Strathclyde

Date
01/10/2021

Category
Self-directed Support Library

Briefing paper summarising the experiences of advocacy organisations, law centres and advice agencies in their work supporting people to complain to local authorities about their Self-directed Support. Executive report, 5 pages.

Authors
In-control Scotland, University of Strathclyde Humanities and Social Sciences

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Accountability and the implementation of Self-directed Support - In-Control Scotland, University of Strathclyde

Date
01/10/2021

Category
Self-directed Support Library

A research report examining the experiences of advocacy organisations, law centres and advice agencies in their work supporting people to complain to local authorities about their Self-directed Support packages. Research report, 44 pages.

Authors
SIAA - Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance

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Find an Advocate

Date
01/09/2021

Category
Self-directed Support Library

Website containing accessible information about independent advocacy provision in Scotland, with a dynamic map and search tool.

Authors
Alliance Scotland, SDS Scotland

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My Support, My Choice People's experiences of Self-directed Support and Social Care in South Lanarkshire - Alliance/SDSS

Date
01/09/2021

Category
Self-directed Support Library

This independent review uses data collected from the My Support, My Choice research project run by the Alliance and SDSS, focusing on the experiences of people in South Lanarkshire. Report, 61 pages.

Authors
Alliance Scotland, SDS Scotland

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My Support, My Choice People's experiences of Self-directed Support and social care in Moray - Alliance/SDSS

Date
01/09/2021

Category
Self-directed Support Library

This report uses data collected from the My Support, My Choice research project run by Alliance Scotland and SDSS focusing on experiences of people in Moray. Report, 60 pages.

Authors
Alliance Scotland, SDS Scotland

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My Support, My Choice People's experiences of Self-directed Support and social care in Glasgow - Alliance/SDSS

Date
02/08/2021

Category
Self-directed Support Library

This report uses data collected from the My Support, My Choice research project run by Alliance Scotland and SDSS focusing on experiences of people in Glasgow. Report, 62 pages.

Authors
Self-directed Support Scotland (SDSS)

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PA Employer Handbook - Self-directed Support Scotland (SDSS)

Date
01/08/2021

Category
Self-directed Support Library

A handbook for anyone considering employing a Personal Assistant.

Local Authority Social Care Support

Find links to Local Authorities to see how social care support is being delivered across Scotland through Self-directed Support.

Find out more