Self Directed Support Standards
Social care - self-directed support: framework of standards - May 2024
This framework consists of a set of standards for local authorities to provide them with an overarching structure, aligned to legislation and statutory guidance, for further implementation of the self-directed support approach to social care.
The guidance explains what authorities should do to make sure that people are able to get the support that is right for them. It is based on the Social Care (Self-directed Support) (Scotland) Act 2013. This is the law that tells local authorities what they must do to give access to self directed support in a way that supports people's rights to choice, dignity and being able to take part in the life of their communities.
The law tell us that local authorities should:
- Treat supported people with dignity and respect at all times, including when they first assess someone for support.
- Offer the four self directed support options and explain what each of them mean in a balanced and impartial way, and how they would work for the supported person's unique circumstances.
- Make sure that supported people have a say in planning what their support looks like and that they have as much involvement as they want in decisions about their support.
- Make sure that supported people have enough information to understand what is available and to make the choices which are right for them. This should include information about where to find independent support to help them choose; and
- Make sure that supported people have opportunities to challenge and ask questions about any aspect of their support and are given enough time to understand and participate in decisions about their support, particularly when it is being stopped or changed.
The Self-Directed Support Standards
There are twelve standards.
Standard 1: Independent Support, Community Brokerage and Advocacy
People are offered independent support, community brokerage and advocacy to have choice and control over their own or their child's social care and support, and to exercise their human rights.
Standard 2: Early Help, Family Support and Community Support
Early help, family support and community support are available to all people who need it.
Standard 3: Strengths- and asset-based assessment, planning and review
Trust-based relationships and good conversations between workers and people are at the heart of assessment, planning and review. Outcomes are agreed based on what matters to the person or in achieving a child and young person's potential.
Standard 4: Meaningful and measurable recording practices
Conversations about what matters to the person are clearly recorded, resulting in co-produced outcomes that are comprehensive and easy to understand. People's experiences and preferences are recorded, as well as how these have been acknowledged and expressed in the plan, connecting outcomes to their review.
Standard 5: Accountability
People's legal rights are upheld, supported fully by the authority's processes. These include provision of accessible information, advocacy and mediation, the right to challenge a decision and to make a complaint.
Standard 6: Risk enablement
People's views about their lives and how they wish to meet their own outcomes are listened to and responsibilities in relation to risk agreed. Self-directed Support is not separate from safeguarding and can be used creatively to enhance people's and families' preventative, protective and positive outcomes.
Standard 7: Flexible and outcome focused commissioning
People have meaningful involvement in the development of support and services. People work together with commissioners, practitioners and communities to plan, design, and quality assure flexible local supports.
Standard 8: Worker autonomy
Social work practitioners can exercise their professional judgement, and use their own knowledge, skills and abilities to the benefit of those they are working with and supporting.
Standard 9: Transparency
People are supported by organisations that are open, honest and accountable for decisions, actions and their consequences. These qualities of transparency can help build trust, credibility and respect as well as avoid conflicts and misunderstandings.
Standard 10: Early planning for transitions
People are given the support, time and information they need to plan for their transitions and make decisions as they adjust to new or different phases in their lives.
Standard 11: Consistency of practice
Children, young people, families, supported people and carers can expect a consistent quality of practice within and across local authority areas regardless of age, stage and circumstances.
Standard 12: Access to budgets and flexibility of spend
Children, young people, families, supported people and carers have flexibility and choice in how budgets are spent to meet their agreed personal outcomes. Available funding is allocated in a way that is transparent, fair, equitable and sufficient for all individuals and across all communities.