Scottish Government launches four-year improvement plan for self-directed support in Scotland

Outcomes for social care users and their carers will be successfully achieved if plan leads to improvements in ‘access to information, advice and advocacy, access to quality support, and control and involvement for supported people over how it is delivered’

The Scottish Government has launched a four-year improvement plan for self-directed support (SDS) in Scotland.

NB – the Social Care (Self-directed Support) (Scotland) Act 2013 (the 2013 Act) and the Self-directed Support (Direct Payments) (Scotland) Regulations 2014 (SSI.No.25/2014) make provision for people to choose how much or how little control they have over arranging, managing and paying for their social care and support needs.

In the joint Ministerial and Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) foreword to the new Self-directed support: improvement plan 2023 to 2027, Social Care Minister Maree Todd and health and COSLA social care spokesperson Paul Kelly say –

'This Self-Directed Support Improvement Plan is for all those with a role in ensuring people experience high-quality social care in line with the principles and values of the Social Care SDS (Scotland) Act 2013. This includes local authorities and integration authorities, the Scottish Government, independent support organisations, third sector organisations, professional associations, and providers.

There is much positive work to build on, but there is also still more to be done, in partnership, to make improvements in social care across Scotland. This requires strong leadership, effective systems, skilled workers, sustainable investment and a strong partnership approach – including with the involvement of supported people and carers.'

To that end, the plan draws on principles developed in the previous two-year improvement plan that expired in 2021, and findings from a 2023 consultation on the new plan, to bring together four main outcome areas that reflect where improvements in how SDS is delivered most need to be made – supported person and carers' choice over support; workforce skills; SDS system design; and leadership.

In relation to choice over support for people needing care and their carer's, the report says that success will mean –

'… access to information, advice and advocacy, access to quality support, and control and involvement for supported people over how it is delivered.'

In addition, it sets out a non-exhaustive list of activities or specific areas of work that could lead to improvements –

Access to SDS support, brokerage, advice, advocacy and tools

• continue to fund independent support and advice through Support in the Right Direction funding;
• provide access to SDS advice, independent advocacy, brokerage and preventative support;
• continue to build capacity of supported people and Independent Support Organisations; and
• continue to deliver the SQA Award for Brokerage, develop a National Brokerage Framework for Scotland. support practitioner understanding and knowledge of community brokerage, and develop the Approved Brokers Community of Practice.

Improving the availability and flexibility of SDS Options

• work to address key barriers to the use of SDS Option 2 (that facilitates greater choice and control in Adult and Children's services);
• support provider engagement with SDA Option 2;
• develop and roll-out tools and contractual models for SDS Option 2 to increase workforce confidence and efficiency in offering them; and
• work to increase flexibility in the provision of in-house and commissioned services when delivering Option 3 (where support is selected by the local authority).

Increase public information about SDS and improve its reach

• promote SDS using agreed common language reflecting good practice, including through information sessions; and
• ensure SDS communications are in accessible formats, including communication about support planning and the promotion and signposting of appropriate tools and language services.

Support Personal Assistant employers

• maintain and develop the Personal Assistant Employer Handbook and related Personal Assistant Employer resources.

In concluding comments to the joint foreword, the government and COSLA say –

'This Plan comes at a challenging time. Health and social care systems are recovering from the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, there are ongoing challenges in recruitment and retention of our valued workforce, increasing levels of demand, and the detrimental impact of the cost of living crisis.

There are improvements that can and must be made despite these challenges. Scottish Government and COSLA recognise the need for an ambitious approach to transforming social care. We understand our responsibilities to deliver the necessary changes in partnership with others and remain committed to listening, valuing and acting on people’s experiences of social care support.'

For more information, see Self-directed support: improvement plan 2023 to 2027 from gov.scot