News

Read the latest news on our work and wider social care policy in Scotland.

News

3 December 2025

SDSS reflections on International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2025 

Today, on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, we join the global call to create societies that are truly inclusive, equitable, and sustainable for disabled people. This year’s theme,…

News

21 November 2025

Highlights from SDS Scotland AGM 2025

Our Annual General Meeting this year brought together over 50 members and colleagues from across the Self-directed Support (SDS) sector for a day of learning, discussion, and collaboration. Held online, the event provided an opportunity…

Annual Report 2025 front page

News

18 November 2025

Our latest Annual Report 2025

Today we published our most recent Annual Report, sharing highlights from our work over the past year. Covering the period April 2024 – March 2025, the report includes details of…

Scottish Personal Assistant Workforce Survey 2025 report's cover page

News

17 September 2025

Scottish PA Workforce Survey 2025 results report published

Self Directed Support Scotland is pleased to publish the findings of the third Personal Assistant Workforce Survey! The 2025 PA Workforce Survey, conducted between 1st April and 5th May 2025,…

Two people sitting at a desk and writing

News

8 July 2025

Reports exploring SDS implementation published

Self Directed Support Scotland (SDSS) have published three reports, exploring the following topics: Exploring barriers to Self-Directed Support for People Living with Dementia (here) Self-directed Support in the Alcohol and…

A cartoon image of a paper copy of a law, with a Scottish flag over its top right corner

News

13 June 2025

Care Reform (Scotland) Bill passed by Scottish Parliament

The Care Reform (Scotland) Bill has now been passed by Scottish Parliament. The Bill has been passed following it’s original iteration of the National Care Service Bill. The Bill will…

A open yellow envelope in the centre with a white letter popping out of it which says "Personal Assistant Programme Board Open Meeting". Beside this on either side are two sets of PAs and their employers. This is all on a blue background.

News

9 June 2025

Reflecting on the 2025 Open Meeting of the PA Programme Board

The annual open meeting of the PA Programme Board was held online on Thursday 26th June. The Open Meeting was the chance for PAs to find out what the Programme Board…

The front page of "Standard 13: Direct Payments for Employing Personal Assistants" document

News

6 June 2025

New SDS Standard for Social Workers Published

Social Work Scotland have now published SDS Standard 13: Direct Payments for employing Personal Assistants. The Standard aims to ensure that Personal Assistant employers are consistently supported by social workers…

A yellow envelope containing a piece of paper inside saying 'Personal Assistant Programme Board Open Meeting, You're Invited!', with a red banner across the front saying 'Thursday 26 June 10am'. The imPAct logo appears underneath.

News

23 May 2025

Invitation to learn about work that supports PAs in Scotland

  The Personal Assistant Programme Board is a group of people including Scottish Government who are working to improve things across Scotland for PAs and Employers. Once a year the…

SDS National Voice 2025

News

20 May 2025

Reflecting on SDS National Voice 2025

In March we were delighted to welcome more than 160 people to our annual conference, SDS National Voice. Held in person at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre, and online for…

Are you a Personal Assistant? Take the Scottish Personal Assistant Workforce survey 2025 now! Survey closes 9am Monday 5 May and an image of a woman pointing

News

1 April 2025

Scottish Personal Assistant Workforce Survey 2025

Calling all Personal Assistants! We need your help to understand more about the Personal Assistant workforce in Scotland. The Scottish Personal Assistant Workforce Survey 2025 is now live, and we…

Personal Assistant Recruitment Toolkit

News

18 March 2025

PA Recruitment toolkit published

A new toolkit has been published which it is hoped will help Personal Assistant Employers, and the organisations which support them, with recruiting PAs. The toolkit, which has been developed…