Consultation Session on Standards for SDS
Have your say on the development of Standards for Self-directed Support
Social Work Scotland is leading the work to develop Standards for Self-directed Support (SDS) that will apply throughout Scotland. These Standards are to be implemented by all Scottish Local Authorities and will form part of the work of the Independent Review of Adult Social Care.
The Standards will be a major development and will help to ensure the successful, and consistent, implementation of the Self Directed Support Legislation and Guidance.
Social Work Scotland’s SDS project team is now capturing opinions on the draft standards and Self Directed Support Scotland is holding two Information and Discussion Sessions on these Standards, so that as many people as possible can have their say. You only need to come to one session. These will be held on:
Session 1:
Date: Thursday 3 December
Time: 11am – 12.30pm
Session 2:
Date: Monday 7 December
Time: 2pm – 3.30pm
Both sessions will be arranged through Microsoft Teams.
If you would like to book a place on either of these sessions, or discuss any support needed to take part, please contact:
Mark Han-Johnston
Email: mark@sdsscotland.org.uk
Tel: 07775 065653
The proposed Standards are:
| Area of relevance | SDS Standards |
| Access to independent support and advocacy | 1. Adults, children, young people and their carers are offered independent advice, support and advocacy to have choice and control over their social care and support and to exercise their human rights. |
| Early help and support | 2. Early help and support is available to all people who need it. |
| Strength and asset based approaches | 3. Assessment, support planning and review systems and processes are personalised, recognising people’s strengths, assets and community supports, and result in agreed personal outcomes. |
| Outcome monitoring | 4. Agreed personal outcomes are monitored through ongoing review processes. Reliable outcome data is captured routinely, is used for continuous improvement and demonstrates the extent to which SDS practice is carried out as intended. |
| Accountability | 5. Clear and supportive processes are in place for SDS decisions to be challenged and appealed. |
| Risk enablement | 6. Workers and supported people work together through shared decision making to plan for positive risk enablement whilst balancing the responsibility of statutory protection of children, young people, adults and carers. Consideration should be given to supported decision making in relation to capacity. |
| Flexible and outcome focused commissioning | 7. Commissioners shape the local markets to support people to live their lives in ways which evidence choice and control over their care and supports. |
| Worker autonomy | 8. Workers are enabled to exercise professional autonomy in support planning and setting personal budgets within agreed delegated parameters. |
| Transparency | 9. Processes and decisions that affect a supported person’s social care budget and options are recorded and/or explained in ways that make sense to the supported person. This includes helping the person understand what direct care and support they are eligible for, their level of contribution and how a budget can be spent. |
| Early planning for transitions | 10. The Principles of Good Transitions are embedded within SDS policy, planning and practice across all sectors as a framework to support young people and families. Transition planning processes have the person’s wellbeing, aspirations and personal outcomes at the centre. Young people and their families are given the time, information and help they need to make choices and have control of their care and support as they move into the next phase of their lives. |
| Consistency of care | 11. Supported people moving from one local authority to another can expect their agreed personal outcomes to be met in a comparable way. |
There is currently an online survey available if you would like to share your ideas or comments on the draft Standards, which you can see here: Open Call for Comment – The Development of SDS Standards