General Questions on Self Directed Support

Q: What are a local authority's duties in respect of Self Directed Support?

The local authority's duties are:

• Duty to have regard to the general principles of collaboration, informed choice and involvement as part of the assessment and provision of support.
• Duty to take reasonable steps to facilitate the person's dignity and participation in the life of the community.
• Duty to offer the 4 Options to the supported person .
• Duty to explain the nature and effect of the four options.

Q: What other local authority duties complement their Self Directed Support duties?

These duties are:

• Duty to assess needs for a community care service
• Duty to safeguard, support and promote the wellbeing of children
• Duty to identify carers' needs and support carers
• Duty to promote social welfare
• Duty to make inquiries 

Q: What happens if I have had an assessment carried out but I am not eligible for care and support services?

If you have received an assessment and you are not eligible for care and support services you will be signposted to agencies who will be able to support you to access community resources.  If, however, you feel that your needs have changed since your last assessment you can ask for a new assessment to be undertaken.

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Q: Are there restrictions on who can be offered the 4 Self Directed Support options?

There are times when the obligation to discuss and offer the 4 options does not immediately apply:

• When a person is presenting in crisis
• When it is premature to make an assessment about a person's longer-term need for support, for example when people are working to maximise their capability through re-ablement or intermediate care.
• When a person's chaotic lifestyle needs to be stabilised before their longer-term support needs are considered

As soon as it is decided that the individual will be provide with stable ongoing-support, the authority must offer the 4 choices.

In addition, there are circumstances where local authorities are not required to give the opportunity to choose a direct payment:

• When a local authority has previously terminated a direct payment
• When the granting of a direct payment is likely to put the safety of the supported person at risk
• When the 4 options are not discussed or agreed to, the practitioner will record this in assessments and support plans.
• When considered planning to meet future needs is required, for example, to facilitate a discharge from hospital

Q: Is my Direct Payment only to be used for employing Personal Assistants or contracting Self-Employed Workers?

Becoming an employer is only available to those who select option 1 but their direct payment can also be used to purchase other goods and services that might otherwise be available under options 2-4 for example, purchasing services from a registered care provider.

Q: What happens If I don't like how my chosen option is working for me and want to select a different option? 

If you are not wholly comfortable with your SDS option and what your care delivery arrangements involve then you should contact your social work practitioner to discuss the other options that are available to you.

Q: Can I employ a member of my family to support me?

In certain circumstances, it may be agreed that you can employ a family member to provide your care and support:

• There is a limited choice of service providers who could meet the needs of the individual.
• The individual has specific communication needs which mean it will be difficult for another person or provider to meet those needs.
• The family member will be available to provide support which is required at times when providers would not reasonably be available.

There are other factors which make it appropriate, in the opinion of the local authority, for that family member to provide support.

Careful consideration should be given to the possibility of employing a family member who lives in the same house as the individual as it can be difficult to separate those times when they are delivering paid care and other times when they are providing unpaid care and natural supports.

• The intimate nature of the care required makes it preferable to the individual that it is provided by a family member.
• The individual has religious or cultural beliefs which make the provision of care or support by a family member preferable.
• The individual requires palliative care.

The individual has an emergency or short-term necessity for care. 

Q: What is Community Brokerage?

Community brokerage is a model of independent support that facilitates people directing their own social care support. The purpose is to help people and carers who may need support to make informed decisions about the help they need and how it can best be delivered.

Community Brokerage is:

• A non-profit model of support brokerage.
• Uses a human rights approach.
• Builds community capacity and empowers individuals to self-direct their own lives.

How it Works

It works by building meaningful relationships with people, facilitating access to the support people need to live happy, healthy, and rewarding lives of their own choosing. It keeps Individual support at the centre of all activity - ensuring their personal gifts, skills, talents, and abilities are recognised, and their contribution valued.It works with people whether they have an SDS budget or not.

What do Community Brokers Do?

• Community Brokers promote the principles of involvement, participation, and empowerment by providing individuals with independent support and access to information they require to make their own choices.
• They support individual autonomy whilst ensuring the person has the right level of assistance as they establish personalised support arrangements.
• They have knowledge, networks and connections within communities which they use to facilitate opportunities for support.

You can find out about community brokerage in Scotland at Community Brokerage Scotland (opens new window)

What can I spend by individual budget on?

There are lots of things you can spend your budget on to help you meet your personal outcomes. Some examples of what you may wish to use this budget for:

Support for a provider, local authority or a personal assistant.

• Different supports to help you live well such as help to do your shopping or to do cleaning around your home.
• Specialist supports to help you stay fit and healthy. This could be, for example, a personal trainer or a gym membership.
• Membership of a group or activity that helps you connect with people in your own local community.
• Things to help you in work or learning new skills.
• Technology or equipment that helps you meet your goals (and any maintenance of this).
• A holiday or a short break.
• You can choose to pool your resources with a friend to pay for a joint item (like a trip to an event for example)

The are many other possible uses for your budget, however you should know that this budget must be used to meet or support you to meet the outcomes in your support plan and all funds must be used for legally appropriate activities and support.