Self directed support
What is Self Directed Support?
Self directed support (SDS) is the new system of delivering social care. Self directed support allows the person who needs support to have choice and control over the support they require, and how it is delivered and paid for.
- Social services will determine whether someone is eligible for self directed support by conducting an assessment to explore the persons support and care needs.
- People who are assessed as eligible for self directed support are given an individual budget which they can choose to use to arrange their own support.
- If someone is eligible for self directed support, they will need to create a support plan which identifies how they will spend their personal budget to meet their needs.
- People are encouraged to be creative as possible when writing their support plan, and to try and move away from traditional methods of support. For example someone could use part of their personal budget to pay for yoga classes.
- Once the support plan is agreed by the local authority, the person can start making their support plan a reality by putting in place the services and goods they have identified.
- Self directed support is therefore a way of achieving independent living and ultimately a better quality of life.
