National Self-directed Support (SDS) Community of Practice

Social Work Scotland hosts a positive, solution focused platform that facilitates the flow of learning and innovation from national and international research, national stakeholder learning, including the Social Work Scotland SDS project, local experience and from the expertise of those with living experience of SDS and social care.  

The Community of Practice is a safe space for social work practitioners and others from local partnerships to engage in learning about SDS implementation, and invites participants to share knowledge about local SDS practice, drawing on effective evidence-based practice and on national implementation and improvement science learning and expertise.  

The Community of Practice was set up in 2021. It currently has 240 members across all 32 local authority areas (31 HSCPs). The Community of Practice is valued as a trusted safe space and a source of inspiration and learning for members.

If you would like to find out more, please see below for:

• Social Work Scotland SDS project team - offer of support to local authorities (2025) (MS Word doc)
• SDS community of practice organogram (PDF)

We keep members and wider stakeholders up to date with SDS project activities through a bimonthly SDS project bulletin. Anyone can sign up for the bulletin by contacting sds.team@socialworkscotland.org

You may also find these other resources useful:

• Self-directed (SDS) Standards (updated 2024)
• Self-directed Support Practitioner Toolkit (updated 2025)
• SDS Standard 13 - Direct Payments to employ Personal Assistants (2025)

• SDS Seminars - videos on a wide range of topics
• Reflections on Practice - Self-directed Support (2024)
• Self-directed Support Learning and Improvement Framework and supporting resources
• National Self-directed Support Community of Practice