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Proposal: Implementation Plan 2023–2026

August 2, 2022

Proposal for Self-Directed Support Strategy 2010-2020: Implementation Plan 2023 – 2026

The objective of the Self-Directed Support Strategy was to achieve successful implementation of the statute. A further Implementation Plan was established, along with a co-produced Change Map, which expired in 2021.

The SDS Statutory Guidance, currently under review, supports those implementing the legislation on a daily basis, by providing a concise interpretation. There is a current absence of strategic driver to ensure cohesive implementation of SDS, identifying the role of each stakeholder and the delivery structures. As Social Work Scotland is currently funded to bridge the implementation gap, with Self-Directed Support Scotland funded to support the revision of SDS policy; both are ideally placed to facilitate this development through the SDS National Collaboration, through cross sector engagement with all relevant stakeholders.

Proposal

The newly established SDS National Collaboration has at its core, the willingness to collaborate on a cross sector basis, in order to improve SDS delivery and support policy development.

This group has a broad range of representation across SDS delivery, with several of the member organisations funded by SG to deliver improvement work to support effective and ongoing SDS delivery. The National Collaboration is the ideal forum for the development of a revised Implementation Plan, through a bottom up approach, albeit with SG ownership to support the transition from the current situation to the point of delivery of the National Care Service, dovetailing with the objectives and delivery vehicles therein and influencing that development.

A review of the previous implementation plan structure would provide an initial focus in order to identify the most efficient delivery structure. This may potentially set out the previous delivery methods with a continued focus on the three main delivery components: Leaders and systems, Workforce, People.

In the previous iteration, there was a section on understanding progress. Some of the outcomes of this progress, such as the national research project, have been integrated into the SDS Standards for good practice, which are being adopted by all local authorities. The Community of Practice, with representation from all local partnership areas, will provide ground level evidence of SDS progress and a realistic perception of challenges and barriers. This implementation structure will facilitate a consistent approach to progress measurement. An identified area for improvement is a more comprehensive and integrated data gathering and management system, to feed into national planning.

Process

Facilitated discussion with the group could review the existing document, identify gaps and future need and areas of work. A smaller steering group could identify a work plan from this and adopt a subgroup approach to drive this forward, each subgroup working on a specific area, linking with wider partners and the Community of Practice. Some of this development may also dovetail with that of the existing PA Programme Board, as an element of workforce.

SDSS has agreed to develop a webpage to host all related documents, news and discussion items, with a link to the SDS Discussion Forums, to ensure the widest engagement possible. Facilitation and revision of the existing strategy is one of the key deliverables within the SDSS core funding.

It is critical to successful delivery that the steering group works closely with Scottish Government and COSLA to ensure joint sign off, ensuring legitimacy. It is also critical that the implementation plan identifies achievable developments, in acknowledgement of the current implementation gap.