How Could It Help You?
Many people have heard the term Self-Directed Support but are not sure what it means, how it works or whether it could apply to them.
Self-Directed Support, usually shortened to SDS, is the way social care is arranged in Scotland. Its purpose is to give people greater choice, flexibility and control over the support they receive.
Rather than having every decision made on your behalf, SDS allows you to be more involved in deciding what support you need, how it is provided and, depending on the option chosen, who provides it.
For someone who wants to remain independent at home, this can make a significant difference.
How Does Self-Directed Support Work?
The process normally begins with an assessment by your local Social Work team.
The assessment looks at your circumstances, the challenges you are experiencing and the outcomes you would like your support to help you achieve.
These outcomes might include:
- Remaining safely and independently at home
- Attending appointments
- Getting out into the community
- Maintaining important routines
- Reducing loneliness or isolation
- Giving an unpaid family carer a break
- Continuing to enjoy clubs, activities or social connections
Where eligible care needs are identified, the local authority will decide how much funding is available to meet the agreed outcomes in your support plan.
This does not necessarily mean that everyone receives the same number of hours or the same financial amount. The support offered should be based on the individual assessment.
What Are the Four SDS Options?
There are four Self-Directed Support options available in Scotland.
Option 1: Direct Payment
Under Option 1, the local authority makes a Direct Payment to you so that you can arrange your own support.
You can use the payment to purchase services from a registered care provider or, in some circumstances, employ your own personal assistant. This option generally offers the greatest level of choice and control, but it also involves more responsibility for arranging and managing the support.
Option 2: You Choose and Someone Else Arranges It
You choose the support you want, but the local authority or another organisation manages the budget and arranges the service on your behalf.
This can give you choice without requiring you to manage the money directly.
Option 3: The Council Arranges Your Support
The local authority selects and arranges the support for you.
This involves less personal responsibility, but it may also offer less direct control over the provider and how the support is delivered.
Option 4: A Combination
You can use a mixture of Options 1, 2 and 3 for different parts of your support.
For example, you might use a Direct Payment for one type of support while allowing the council to arrange another.
How Much Funding Is Available?
The amount awarded will depend on your individual assessment and agreed support plan.
Current hourly funding rates provided to Creative Homecare are:
- Falkirk Council: £28.12 per hour
- Stirling Council: £26.79 per hour
These figures can help you compare the funding available with the hourly cost of your preferred provider.
Where the provider’s rate is higher than the amount funded by the council, you may need to pay a contribution or top up the difference. The exact arrangement will depend on your assessment, the SDS option chosen and the rules applied by your local authority.
Because council rates and individual arrangements can change, it is important to confirm the current position with your Social Work team before making financial decisions.
Can You Choose Creative Homecare?
Depending on your SDS arrangement and the outcomes agreed in your care plan, you may be able to use your personal budget to purchase support from a provider such as Creative Homecare.
Creative Homecare provides professional, personalised homecare across Falkirk and Stirling from Monday to Friday.
Our support can include:
- Companionship and social visits
- Help attending appointments
- Support to visit clubs and community groups
- Shopping and everyday errands
- Days out and visits to favourite places
- Practical help to remain independent at home
- Respite and reassurance for family carers
We take time to understand the individual, their routines and what they want their support to achieve.
Why Choice and Continuity Matter
Good homecare is not simply about completing a list of tasks.
It is about feeling comfortable with the person entering your home, being treated with dignity and knowing that your wishes are being respected.
Having a choice of provider can help you find a service that reflects your priorities. You may place particular value on continuity, longer visits, companionship, flexibility or support to remain involved in your local community.
Creative Homecare is rated Grade 6 – Excellent by the Care Inspectorate. Our approach focuses on providing dependable, person-centred support and helping people retain as much choice and independence as possible.
Support with a Wider Purpose
Creative Homecare is also a social enterprise established by Strathcarron Hospice.
Every penny of profit generated by our homecare service goes towards supporting the vital work of the hospice.
This means that choosing Creative Homecare can create two positive outcomes: receiving high-quality support at home while also contributing to hospice care for other people and families across the community.
How Do You Apply for Self-Directed Support?
The first step is usually to contact your local council’s Social Work or social care team and ask for an assessment.
The assessment will consider whether you are eligible for funded support and what outcomes the support should help you achieve.
You can ask questions about:
- Your assessed care needs
- The amount of funding available
- The four SDS options
- Whether a Direct Payment is suitable
- Any personal contribution required
- Whether you can choose your preferred provider
- How the support will be reviewed
It can be helpful to think in advance about what you are finding difficult and what you would like to be able to do with the right support.
Want to Know More?
Understanding Self-Directed Support can feel complicated at first, but you do not need to work through it alone.
Creative Homecare can explain the service we provide, discuss how our support may fit your needs and help you understand the questions to ask your Social Work team.
📞 01324 827394
📧 administrator@creativehomecare.co.uk
🌐 www.creativehomecare.co.uk
Care with heart. Support with purpose.