Self-Directed Support (SDS)

A series of focus groups are being carried out by the Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (the ALLIANCE) for the Scottish Government. These are for people with sensory impairments to discuss their experiences of accessible information for Self-directed Support (SDS) and social care.

There are two online focus groups for adults aged over 18 years with Deafness:

1. If your first or preferred language is spoken language, this focus group takes place on Friday 26 January 2024, 10am – 12 noon, facilitated by Janis McDonald. Electronic Notetakers will be provided.

1. If your first or preferred language is British Sign Language, this focus group takes place on Thursday 1 February 2024, 11am – 1pm, facilitated by Clare Canton. A BSL advert for this focus group is available on YouTube, on X (formerly Twitter) and on the ALLIANCE Facebook page.

Please share this information so as many people as possible with Deafness who access, or would like to access SDS, can have the opportunity to take part. This includes people who have been told they are not eligible for SDS, but who feel it would benefit them.

To register your interest in either of these focus groups, please email sensory@alliance-scotland.org.uk.

News on focus groups for people with Deafblindness or Visual Impairment will follow in early 2024.

Best wishes,

The Scottish Sensory Hub team

In 2022, In Control Scotland hosted research into SDS Option two (Individual Service Funds). Aberdeenshire HSCP was part of this research and the full report can be viewed here.

Following this research, in spring 2023, Aberdeenshire HSCP invited In Control Scotland to support in a 'Deep Dive' of our Option two service and process. This was a very useful process which involved wide engagement with key stakeholders including third sector partners, people with lived experience and care service providers. An action plan was then developed from this project and updates on these actions will be shared in this news feed as they are achieved.

The first completed action we are pleased to share is the publication of local easy read leaflets explaining all four SDS options both individually and combined. These leaflets can be found in the documents section of this page and are to be published on the Cornerstone SDS website.

The Health, Social Care and Sport Committee is undertaking an inquiry into how the Social Care (Self-directed Support) (Scotland) Act 2013 has worked since it came into force.

The Committee wants to find out from you about whether you feel the Act is producing the expected outcomes, to what extent, and if not, why not?

Full details of this consultation and how to share your views can be found via the link below:

Post-legislative scrutiny of the Social Care (Self-directed Support) (Scotland) Act 2013 - Scottish Parliament - Citizen Space