New SDS Statutory Guidance published

The Scottish Government have published updated Statutory Guidance which describes how Local Authorities should implement social care support.

The first guidance to support the Social Care (Self-directed Support) (Scotland) Act 2013 was published in 2014. This new guidance has been developed by Scottish Government with contributions from a joint working group of key partner organisations, and retains some of what was in the original guidance but has some important differences.

The guidance is designed to help Local Authorities implement Self-directed Support, and explains what they should do to make sure that people are able to get the support that is right for them.

The guidance explains that Local Authorities should:

• Treat supported people with dignity and respect at all times.
• Offer the four SDS options and explain what each of them mean and how they will meet the person’s needs. This must be explained in a balanced and fair way.
• Make sure that supported people are involved in decisions about their care and support.
• Make sure that supported people have enough information to understand what is available and make the choices which are right for them.
• Make sure that supported people have the chance to ask questions about any part of their support. They must also be given enough time and information to understand and be part of decisions about their support, particularly when it is being stopped or changed.

You can read the full document on the Scottish Government website: https://www.gov.scot/publications/statutory-guidance-accompany-social-care-self-directed-support-scotland-act-2013-2/

And also access an Easy Read version here: https://www.gov.scot/publications/easy-read-statutory-guidance-accompany-social-care-self-directed-support-scotland-act-2013/