What is Self Directed Support Scotland

What is Self-directed Support?

Self-directed support (SDS) is a term that describes the ways in which individuals and families can have informed choice about how their support is provided to them. It is most commonly used in the delivery of social care and support but it can cover a much wider range of services.

How does it work?

Self-directed support gives people control over an individual budget and allows them to choose how it is spent on support which meets their agreed health and social care outcomes.

Self-directed support includes a number of options for getting support. The person’s individual budget can be:

• Taken as a Direct Payment (a cash payment)
• Allocated to a provider the individual chooses. The council or funder holds the budget but the person is in charge of how it is spent (this is sometimes called an individual service fund)
• Or the individual can choose a council arranged service
• Or the individual can choose a mix of these options for different types of support