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.

Two heads, talking to each other, one is thinking of "my life, the way i want it".
Topics
  • About SDS
  • Addictions
  • Adults and Incapacity
  • Adults and older people
  • Archived Resources
    ?
    Close × A collection of resources that reflect and record the early years of SDS implementation.
  • Assessment and Support Planning
    ?
    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
    ?
    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
    ?
    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
    ?
    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
    ?
    Close × Information to support Personal Assistants in their role, including how to become a Personal Assistant.
  • Pilot schemes
    ?
    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
    ?
    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
    ?
    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
    ?
    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
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Personal Assistants Programme Board Research

Date
13/01/2025

Category
Research, Self-directed Support Library

A collection of links to research which is relevant for Personal Assistants.

Authors
Social Work Scotland

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Self-directed Support Learning and Improvement Framework (SDS LIF) and supporting resources

Date
01/10/2024

Category
Self Evaluation Tools, Self-directed Support Library

The Self-directed Support Learning and Improvement Framework offers practical guidance, tools and resources to facilitate continuous improvement and sustainable change.

Authors
Social Work Scotland

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Self-directed Support Seminars (online videos on relevant topics)

Date
06/06/2024

Category
Self-directed Support Library

The Self-directed Support project team at Social Work Scotland have hosted semi-regular online seminars on various topics which are relevant to Self-directed Support. Here is a list of the seminars, clicking the title of each seminar will take you to a video recording of the semi...

Authors
Social Work Scotland

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Self-Directed Support Framework of Standards (2024)

Date
17/05/2024

Category
Self-directed Support Library

The Self-Directed Support Framework of Standards consists of a set of standards (including practice statements and core components) written specifically for local authorities to provide them with an overarching structure, aligned to legislation and statutory guidance, for further...

Authors
Scottish Sensory Hub

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Accessible information on Self-directed Support – lived experience research report

Date
24/04/2024

Category
Self-directed Support Library

The ALLIANCE (Scottish Sensory Hub) has published a report on people's experiences of accessible information around Self-directed Support and social care.

Authors
Self-directed Support Scotland (SDSS)

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The SDS Handbook - Self-directed Support Scotland (SDSS)

Date
31/03/2024

Your complete guide to accessing care and support in Scotland

Authors
Self-directed Support Scotland (SDSS)

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The Personal Assistant (PA) Handbook - Self-directed Support Scotland (SDSS)

Date
31/03/2024

Category
Self-directed Support Library

The guide for people who are or are thinking of becoming a Personal Assistant.

Authors
Citizen Network

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Self-Directed Support For Service Providers

Date
04/01/2024

Category
Self-directed Support Library

This report on Self-Directed Support in Europe sets out strategies for service providers to work in partnership with people with disabilities and their families. Authors: Simon Duffy, John Dalrymple and Nic Crosby This short report was prepared by three researchers who have als...

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
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
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
Self-directed Support Scotland (SDSS)

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The Personal Assistant (PA) Employer Handbook - Self-directed Support Scotland (SDSS)

Date
01/08/2021

Category
Self-directed Support Library

The guide for people employing or thinking of employing a Personal Assistant.

Authors
Self-directed Support Scotland (SDSS)

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What does SDS mean for Individuals?

Date
01/09/2018

Category
Self-directed Support Library

A brief video from Self-directed Support Scotland which explains that Self-directed Support is Scotland's mainstream approach to social care. Keywords: British Sign Language. Tool, video - 23 seconds.

Authors
Self-directed Support Scotland (SDSS)

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How does Self-directed Support work?

Date
01/09/2018

Category
Self-directed Support Library

A brief video from Self-directed Support Scotland (SDSS) which explains the Self-directed Support 4 options. Keywords: British Sign Language. Tool, video - 58 seconds.

Authors
Self-directed Support Scotland (SDSS)

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What are the Values and Principles that underline how SDS should work in the law.

Date
01/09/2018

Category
Self-directed Support Library

A video from Self-directed Support Scotland (SDSS) which explains how Self-directed Support is Scotland's mainstream approach to social care. Keywords: British Sign Language. Tool, video - 1 minute, 40 seconds.

Authors
Penumbra

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Personal Story - Gordon

Date
01/04/2018

Category
Self-directed Support Library

Gordon talks about his SDS journey and how Penumbra and EARS advocacy supported him. Keywords: Advocacy; mental health; support plan. Video - 4 minutes, 48 seconds.

Authors
Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC)

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Personal Outcomes Planning Resources

Date
01/03/2018

Category
Self-directed Support Library

A suite of support planning resources developed by the Personal Outcomes Network includes videos, e-book, powerpoint presentation and personal outcomes booklet.

Authors
Scottish Care

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Personal Story - Norma

Date
01/03/2018

Category
Self-directed Support Library

Norma discusses the impact that SDS Option 2 has had on her quality of life. Keywords: Older adults; Highland; personal outcomes; option 2; individual service fund. Video - 6 minutes, 3 seconds.

Authors
Personal Outcomes Network

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Personal Outcomes Network

Date
01/02/2018

Category
Self-directed Support Library

A website which brings together a range of information, resources, tools and evidence to support a shift in focus towards personal outcomes, or what matters to people, in children’s and adult services.

Authors
Ayrshire Independent Living Network

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Personal Story - Gayle

Date
01/08/2017

Category
Self-directed Support Library

The story of Gayle and how she has used Self-directed Support Option 1 to employ Personal Assistants which has given her more freedom and choice. Keywords: Ayrshire; PA Employer; Option 1; Direct Payment; Horse riding. Video - 6 minutes, 21 seconds.

Authors
NHS Education for Scotand, NES; Dumfries and Galloway HSCP; Renfrewshire HSCP; SPAEN; SSSC

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Why is it important to have better conversations - e-learning

Date
01/03/2017

Category
Self-directed Support Library

An interactive e-learning resource focusing on fictional character, Jessica and how conversations that take place with her social care assessor lead to better outcomes for her. Keywords: Outcomes; assets; community involvement. Learning resource, e-learning approx. 30 minutes.

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