1. Self Directed Support in Scotland: The Story so Far
Mark Han-Johnston
EVOC ‘SDS - are we there yet?’
Thursday 28th September 2016

2. Who are Self Directed Support Scotland
Self Directed Support Scotland (SDSS) is a national membership organisation
We are a User-Led, Disabled People’s Organisation (DPO)
(A majority of our Board Members are disabled people from disabled
person’s organisations)
We are part of the Independent Living Movement in the UK
We actively promote Independent Living by supporting,
working with and championing the aims of
Self Directed Support disabled people's organisations (SDS-DPOs)

3. What we do:
Raise awareness of Self Directed Support and the principles behind it
Promote the Social Model of Disability and the philosophy of the Independent Living Movement
We develop resources, materials and training for our member organisations
Research best practice, identify examples of good practice in SDS and report back to member organisations and others
Provide a national campaigning voice for member organisations
Work with other local and national organisations and agencies
We also work with Local Authorities, NHS Health Boards and Health and Social Care Partnerships / Integrated Joint Boards to raise awareness of SDS practise and implementation

4. The picture across Scotland

5. Implementation of Self Directed Support:
SDS 10 year National Strategy (2010 – 2020)
Social Care (Self-directed Support) (Scotland) Act 2013
Statutory Guidance to accompany the above Act (March 2014)
Created new expectations in the delivery of social care
Central themes of personalisation, co-production and an outcomes focus
Created new legal duties for Local Authorities
(eg ‘facilitate the person’s dignity and participation in the life of the
community’; offer the 4 options; signpost)

6. Scottish Government Statistics for SDS: 2014 - 2015
Implementation
The best estimate of an implementation rate suggests that clients who made a choice represented 20% of all social care clients in (80% no choice made?)
The implementation rate was higher amongst younger clients (aged under 65) than amongst older clients (aged 65+)
Client Analysis
The best estimate of the breakdown of SDS option choices in is: 13%
Option 1; 9% Option 2; 75% Option 3; and 3% Option 4
The vast majority (88%) of clients aged 65+ chose Option 3, whereas under 65s were more likely to choose Option 1 or 2
Expenditure
At least £250m of expenditure was budgeted for social care clients who had made a choice regarding their services and support in (20% of the all people?)
On average, Option 3 care packages were of a lower value than Option 1 or Option 2 packages (Lower value = lower cost?)

7. This Report also highlights:
Only 20 out or 32 Local Authorities could give figures for the number of people on each of the 4 options of SDS
For 37% of people recorded on option 3 – it was not known what type of need their service was meeting (eg Housing, Personal Care etc)
There is an assumption that people on option 1 made a choice for this – which SDSS research has shown is not always the case
Different Local Authorities have different definitions of what constitutes an Option 2 service
There is no comparison between the amount of money spent on social care services prior to SDS implementation – no way of knowing if more or less is being spent
There is no comparison with the number of people eligible for social care funded support before SDS implementation

8. Where SDS is working well in Scotland: ?
There is no systematic way to know
There is not enough evidence to say that good practise is embedded in SDS implementation
It is not possible to say that Local Authorities meet their statutory duties under the SDS legislation
There are examples of good practise – certain teams / individuals etc
There is far more evidence of SDS not working as intended across the whole of Scotland

9. Weather Forecast for SDS: There may be trouble ahead
There has been some stormy weather
It’s likely to get wetter
There will be a few gales
There are some bright spots on the horizon

10. Some of the Issues that people face

11. (1) Postcode Lottery:
You may receive a different level of service and support depending on where you live
You may receive more money as a budget under Option 1 in one place, and less in another (But your needs are the same)
There may be varying degrees of understanding of SDS in different places
Some people may not even be told of SDS
It may be difficult to move to another area and get the same level of support

12. (2) Challenges to accessing SDS:
Lack of awareness of SDS
Lack of training for Local Authority staff on SDS
People being given incorrect information – dissuades people from applying for SDS
Reductions in Local Authority budgets – the on-going reduction of people’s care packages / budgets
Stricter interpretation of eligibility criteria – and applying this to
Support Plans and activities people choose to undertake
Lack of a transparent and open system for allocating an appropriate budget to meet identified needs
Inequality of access to SDS for different groups of people
Local Authorities not undertaking assessments timely - if at all (for SDS and Carers)

13. (3) Challenges when receiving SDS:
People being given incorrect information
Lack of effective co-ordinating and communicating service provision between Education, Health, Housing and Social Work
Difficulty in getting jointly funded packages of care under SDS
Lack of access to Independent support (from Disabled People’s organisations and advocacy)
Difficulty getting agreement to use budgets flexibly and being risk positive
Lack of an Option 2 choice

14. It’s no longer them and us – it’s just us’ Collaborative Practise in Assessment Research
‘The relationship between the assessor and the assessed person is the foundation – it’s so important. It needs good communication – especially good listening – and honesty. Processes and systems should be built around this and enable it, rather than getting in the way.’

15. It’s no longer them and us – it’s just us’ Findings:
A climate of openness was created when people can come together to review SDS
Assessors are experiencing differing degrees of financial pressure
In practise, people using SDS and practitioners experiences differ significantly because of this financial pressure
The relationship between people using SDS and the assessor has come under strain because of the financial pressure
Assessors can struggle to be honest with their employer about the reality of SDS implementation

16. It’s no longer them and us – it’s just us’ Conclusions:
Introducing SDS at a time of austerity has put pressure on front line practitioners – who are encouraging people to make choices but are also being asked to cut people’s budgets
There is variation in the quality of workers practice
The ‘system’ created to deliver SDS is a major issue in preventing the delivery of SDS
It is possible to work in holistic, creative, preventative ways which reduce cost, prevent crisis and delay deterioration (Co-production)

17. SDS in Edinburgh: Some of the challenges:
Guiding people to block contracted services first
Not funding alternative therapies and counselling
Not paying for activity costs
Not being able to choose the gender of the person supporting you
Pushed to move to Option 1 if service identified is not satisfactory in some way
Activities in Support Plans being ‘reassessed’ against eligibility criteria
SDS not being for certain groups (eg homeless)

18. The Overall Challenge:

19. Support, information and further advice:
SDS Information and Support Services across Scotland:
Self Directed Support Scotland (SDSS):
Not-for-profit support providers in your local area across Scotland:
SDS National Guides
(for service users, carers and practitioners)
Scottish Government and SDS:

20. Contact details: Mark Han-Johnston:
Capacity Building and Resource Co-ordinator
Self Directed Support Scotland
Norton Park
57, Albion Road
Edinburgh
EH7 5QY
Tel: (0131)
Mob:

21. Thank you for listening: