Health Social Care and Sport Committee: Self-Directed Support Post-legislative Scrutiny response from SASW

Self-Directed Support (SDS) is a topic of much discussion across the social work sector at present. While we have drawn on these wider discussions in writing this response, we have also directly consulted with members and non-member social workers on the question asked, whether you feel the Act is producing the expected outcomes, to what extent, and if not, why not? 

We heard great support for the principles and ideals behind the SDS legislation. However, there is a disconnect between the aims of the legislation and the reality on the ground. We heard from social workers who were disheartened that the promises of the legislation have not been fulfilled in practice. We also heard that the SDS funding models do not support the delivery of good-quality social work in Scotland.

With that said, we also heard that SDS can change lives and is fundamentally important to the independence of service users. There is no call to see SDS radically changed in its core purpose.

Read the full SASW Response - Health Social Care and Sport Committee: Self-Directed Support Post-legislative Scrutiny below