At Hamill Homecare, we understand the importance of maintaining one’s independence.
A significant part of providing the best possible care service is allowing our clients as much control over their care as possible. While this can vary considerably across different services, one way to achieve this is through participation in Self-Directed Support (SDS).
So, what is SDS, and how can it work for you? Read on as we explore the available options so you can make an informed decision.
What is Self-Directed Support?
Before examining each option in detail, we should first consider what SDS actually is.
Introduced as a Scottish legislative act in 2013, SDS ensures that every person in care is legally entitled to an assessment of their care and support needs and that they can choose how their care is managed and delivered to help them meet their desired outcomes.
This assessment is typically conducted by a social worker and will be based on criteria set by the local council.
This focus on ‘outcome’ is an essential aspect of SDS care, as it empowers those requiring care, their carers, and personal assistants to enhance their quality of life in ways that matter to them.
By allowing control and flexibility, examples of outcomes could be:
- Enhanced daily independence
- Feeling more socially engaged and less lonely
- Improved mental well-being
- Greater autonomy in leisure activities and hobbies
- Involvement in the local community
For example, in the case where the desired outcome is ‘autonomy over leisure time’, this budget could be used to:
- Purchase relevant equipment
- Clothing to support the individual in their activity
- Transport them and their carer to and from the activity
- Pay for fees and memberships.
By focusing on these outcomes, greater emphasis is placed on the individual’s wants and needs. Once assessed, the local council agrees upon a budget, and a bespoke care plan can be created based on one of these outcomes.
Once enacted, this plan will serve as a roadmap for measuring care outcomes and efficacy over time, providing those who require care with a greater sense of dignity and an improved quality of life.
Who is Self-Directed Support suitable for?
In Scotland, SDS can be sought by and for people who are eligible for social care and support services. This applies to all ages, including adults, children, and unpaid carers, to help them deliver care or purchase care relief, allowing for time off and holidays. Each council will have its own criteria and will be able to advise on the specifics of qualification.
Supporting someone seeking Self-Directed Support
Whether or not you are caring for an applicant directly, if you’d like to support someone seeking SDS, there are a few things you can do to help them manage their application, including:
- Contacting their local authority to give them a clear understanding of the challenges they face
- Ensure they have supporting documents, such as medical history, readily available
- Outline if any other organisations or professionals, e.g. care homes, social workers, therapists, and doctors are involved in the individual’s care
- Ensuring that any necessary adjustments are clearly communicated
Self-Directed Support options
Now that we have familiarised ourselves with the functions of the Self-Directed Support, we can look more closely at the options available to applicants.
Option 1: Direct Payment
Option one for engaging with the SDS fund is through direct payment.
Offering the highest level of autonomy, this option allows individuals to receive their budget directly and spend it according to the initial outcome agreement.
While this approach has clear benefits, such as providing funds to personal assistants who may have been unpaid in the past, it also requires greater fiscal responsibility.
This involves maintaining accurate accounts and records of budget usage to ensure that the money is spent as approved by the local council.
Option 2: Individual Service Fund (ISF)
Individual Service Funds strike an appealing balance between Direct Payment and Direct Service, offering a good level of autonomy without as many financial responsibilities.
By choosing this option, or Direct Payment, individuals can demonstrate complete preferential control when utilising providers of personal and overnight care.
Option 3: Direct Service
With direct service, individuals seeking care can enjoy a simplified process that requires no financial management or administrative responsibilities.
While this means that care is chosen by the local council, this approach is better suited for applicants who prefer a more hands-off experience.
Option 4: Combination approach
The most flexible option, option four, allows for a combination of any and all of the above options. This kind of care is suitable for individuals with varying degrees of care needs, depending on their desired outcomes.
To use our previous example of ‘autonomy over leisure time, applicants may wish to employ Direct Payment or ISF, in order to have autonomy over the facilities or equipment they use.
However, if their personal assistant, whom they employ through these options, is unable to assist with transportation needs or the activity of their choice, the applicant may consider using Direct Service.
This allows the local council to intervene, select, and provide this type of care on behalf of the individual with minimal additional hassle.
Summary
We hope this article has given you the information you need to pursue Self-Directed Support with confidence.
As mentioned previously, if you wish to learn more about Self-Directed Support, our team are more than happy to use our extensive experience to deliver high-quality care.
Get in touch today to discuss options and learn more.
