Directing your own support

What is Self-directed Support?

Self-directed support (SDS) allows people to choose how their support is provided to them by giving them as much control over the individual budget spent on their support.

In other words, SDS is the support a person purchases or arranges to meet agreed health and social care outcomes.

SDS includes a number of options for getting support. The person’s individual (or personal) budget can be:

• taken as a Direct Payment (a cash payment)
• allocated to a provider the individual chooses (sometimes called an individual service fund , where the council or funder, holds the budget, but the person is in charge of how it is spent)
• the council can arrange a service for the individual,
• or the individual can choose a mix of these options.

Currently councils are only required to offer arranged services or direct payments, but many councils in Scotland offer all the options above.

The Scottish Government is currently working on a Self-directed Support Bill which if enacted will place a duty on councils to offer all three options.

How to Use Self-Directed Support

Self-Directed Support can be used in many ways. You (or your child) can get support to live in your own home, such as help with having a bath or getting washed and dressed.

Out of the home it could support you in college, to continue in employment or take a job, or to enjoy leisure pursuits more. Instead of relying on the activities run at a day centre, you might arrange for a personal assistant (PA) to help you attend local classes, go swimming, or be a volunteer helping others. It could also be used to provide a short break (respite) or for equipment and temporary adaptations.

You can choose whether you would prefer to get support from a service provider such as a voluntary organisation or care agency, or by employing PAs, or a combination of both.

For more advice and guidance read A Users Guide to Self Directed Support in Scotland [PDF - 258Kb].