Self-directed support: improvement plan 2023 to 2027

The plan sets out the priorities to drive forward improvement in Self-directed Support over the next few years.

We are pleased to share the news that the Self-Directed Support (SDS) Improvement Plan 2023-2027 has now been published.

The plan was created with support from the National SDS Collaboration, which brings together partners working in Self-directed Support across Scotland. The plan is the successor to the SDS Implementation Plan 2019 – 2021 and recognises that Self-directed Support should be the way that social care support is delivered for adults, children and young people, families and carers.

The plan targets four main areas for improvement:

• Supported person and carer’s choice over their support

• Enhanced worker skills, practice and autonomy

• Better systems and culture

• Better leadership

It describes work that will take place at a national level right across the sector – from Government and local councils to third sector organisations, independent support organisations and others.

Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport, Maree Todd, said:

“The SDS Improvement Plan will help us to put choices on care into the hands of the people receiving support, enabling them to live independent lives and meet their specific needs. The importance of person led care has been highlighted regularly throughout the development of the Plan and it is right that this brings the focus back to supported people.”

“That is why I’m pleased that this Plan has included engagement and consultation with supported people and carers, as well as support organisations, employees and professional bodies. I would like to thank all those, including the National SDS Collaboration, who enthusiastically engaged in the Plan’s development and shared their experiences and voices.”

COSLA Health and Social Care Spokesperson, Cllr Paul Kelly, said:

“We are happy to share the publication of the Self-directed Support (SDS) Improvement Plan 2023-2027. This plan aims to take a whole system approach to the improvement of SDS, recognising that delivery partners across statutory, third and independent sectors all play an essential role in SDS improvement. Significant progress has been made towards embedding the principles and values of SDS within social care and social work resulting in more personalised care that puts choice and control at the centre. However, there is also still more to be done and this plan sets out the strategic direction to support this.”

Donald Macleod, Chair, National SDS Collaboration, said:

“The National SDS Collaboration is pleased to see the publication of the SDS Improvement Plan, which it has played an instrumental role in developing over the past year. In working on this plan we were keen to take a bottom-up approach to ensure people from across the sector – and crucially, those who currently use (or could use) SDS – would be able to shape the priorities for improvement. We now look forward to working together across the National SDS Collaboration to take forward the actions in this plan, and to monitor progress closely, to make sure that ultimately, the plan is delivering what it sets out to do – improve people’s choice and control over their support.”

The National SDS Collaboration will of course play an ongoing role in delivering and monitoring the plan.
Scottish Government has allocated a total Budget of around £7.5m for the financial year 2023/24 to support SDS improvement and the implementation of actions within this plan. This funding has been distributed to organisations with a role in delivering the plan and to local authorities through ‘transformation funding’ which will complement the existing significant Local Government investment in social care delivery and improvement.

The success of the Improvement Plan relies on us all working together, so the aim is to continue the positive and collaborative relationships that have been developed so far in order to achieve the shared aims.

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