Social Isolation and Loneliness Fund 2023 – 2026
A new Social Isolation and Loneliness Fund has been launched which is open to applications from third-sector organisations, grassroots and community groups based in Scotland. About the Fund The aim of this fund is to support projects and organisations to facilitate progress towards the priorities of ‘A Connected Scotland (2018)’ strategy, contribute to the recovery […]
Applications open for Community Brokerage Award 2024-25
Applications are now open for the next delivery of the Community Brokerage Award, running from September 2024 to June 2025. The award is a certified course, worth 30 credits at SCQF level 7. It is relevant to anyone who wants to provide Community Brokerage to build the capacity of people who need support to live full […]
Have you had help to sort out your social care support?
Complete the By My Side survey now: qrco.de/bymysidesurvey We are doing a research project called By My Side, all about the support people get when they need help to navigate and organise social care. There are organisations across Scotland which are independent from the council and can give you help and advice about social […]
Programme announced for SDS National Voice 2024 conference
We are pleased to announce the programme for this year’s SDS National Voice conference, taking place at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre on Thursday 28 March. SDS National Voice is Scotland’s only national conference dedicated to Self-Directed Support. In 2024 our theme is “A decade of learning”, reflecting the ten years that have passed since […]
SDSS response to post-legislative scrutiny of SDS Act
The Scottish Parliament’s Health, Social Care and Sport Committee is currently undertaking an inquiry into how well the Self-directed Support legislation has worked since it came into force in April 2014. The post-legislative scrutiny process, as it is known, aims to see whether the law is working as intended, to contribute to better regulation, […]
Our 2023 membership certificate
Thank you to all SDSS members who have renewed your membership for another year. We’ll be sending out membership certificates soon, which this year have been designed for us by the Art for Anxiety group, run by SDSS member the Big Disability Group based in Clydebank. The organisation was set up in 2017 by a disabled […]
Free online health and social care courses launched
SDSS member the Ayrshire Independent Living Network (AILN) have launched a series of new online distance learning courses covering a range of health and social care topics. The courses are free to anyone who fits the following criteria: Aged 16+ as of 31 August 2022 Lived in the EU for 3+ years Not in full […]
Community Brokerage Award 2023-2024: applications open
Applications are now open for the next delivery of the Community Brokerage Award, running from September 2023 to June 2024. The Award is a customised SQA award worth 30 credits at SCQF level 7. It has been designed to cover all aspects of community brokerage in relation to self-directed support and is broken down into five […]
New guidance on tenancies for people with additional support needs
The Mental Welfare Commission has published a new good practice guide for landlords about tenancy agreements for people with additional support needs. It will also be useful for social workers and families. Advice for landlords and good practice guidance Over the last decade, there has been a major shift in how and where people with […]
Increase in the minimum hourly rate for PAs from April 2023
The Scottish Government has announced that the minimum rate of pay for Personal Assistants will increase to £10.90 an hour from April 2023. The increase is part of funding agreed as part of the Scottish Budget for 2023/24 and means that the minimum hourly rate for workers providing direct adult social care, including Personal Assistants, […]