SELF DIRECTED SUPPORTEquality Impact Assessment

WHAT IS SELF DIRECTED SUPPORT?

“Self Directed Support (SDS) is a change in the way social care systems operate to give

an individual choice, control and power over the support received.”

BACKGROUND TO SDSThe Transforming Your Care (TYC) recommendations envisage a more integrated delivery of support, more personalised care and more control by service users over budgets.

Self Directed Support is an essential key service development to achieve transformational change for social care.

WHAT WE WANT TO ACHIEVE• To create greater awareness and understanding of SDS; • To enhance the quality of life for those people with care and support

needs; • To ensure people have a positive experience of care and support; • To broker new and develop existing relationships with the

community, voluntary and independent sectors so that people can access a wide range of support services in their local communities;

• 1 in 3 of eligible service users availing of some form of Self Directed Support (i.e. Direct Payments, Managed Budget or Mixed Provision) by 31st March 2018.

JUDES EXPERIENCE

CHALLENGES• Significant cultural and organisational change required• Transfer of power and shared decision making • Engaging and developing the marketplace • Developing different relationships with people• Engaging people in service design and delivery • Systems and processes that respond to the flexibility

required• Moving from risk adverse practice to risk enabling

OPPORTUNITIES• Greater opportunity to be creative• Greater choice and control• Relationship based practice • Asset based approach• Assessments based on personal outcomes• Greater partnership working between professionals,

individuals, agencies and sectors• Shared learning• Most importantly – Better lives

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONSHow does SDS work? Self Directed Support means that once a Trust agrees you need social

care support, you can work with your key worker to agree what you need to help you live your life the way you want.

What options are available? • You can have a Personal Budget – you receive the money and then you arrange your own support.

• You can direct the budget – you choose what support you want then the Trust makes the arrangements for you.

• You can ask the Trust to choose and arrange your care and support.

• You can have a mixture of all of the above options.

If I don’t want SDS, can I refuse? Yes. You do not have to direct your own support if you prefer not to.

FAQ’s CONTINUEDI am happy with the support I receive – do I have to change to Self Directed Support?

No. You do not have to change to Self Directed Support. You can continue with your current arrangements.

I don’t want to be an employer, what other options are available?

Yes. Other options include:• You can direct the budget – you choose what supports you want

then the Trust makes the arrangements for you• You can ask the Trust to choose and arrange your care and support• You can have a mixture of all of the above options.

Can I use self-directed support to purchase respite / short breaks?

Yes, respite is a short break which is to act as a positive experience for the person with support needs and the carer, where there is one.

Can I get help with being an employer?

Yes, your key worker can offer you advice and support on being an employer.The Centre for Independent Living are also available to offer advice on being an employer.

QUESTIONS?

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