Post-legislative scrutiny of the Social Care (Self-directed Support) (Scotland) Act 2013
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 whether the Act is producing the expected outcomes, to what extent, and if not, why not?
What is the Social Care (Self-directed Support) (Scotland) Act 2013?
The main provisions of the Act came into effect in April 2014. The Act was intended to ensure that care and support is arranged, managed and delivered in a way that supports choice and control for individuals. Four fundamental principles of self-directed support (SDS) are built into the legislation. These are:
Participation and dignity
Involvement
Informed choice
Collaboration.
All social care in Scotland should be provided in line with the principles set out in the Act.
In addition to the principles, the Act contains a duty on local authorities to offer four options to people who have been assessed as needing a community care service.
These are:
Option 1: The individual or carer chooses and arranges the support and manages the budget as a direct payment.
Option 2: The individual chooses the support, and the local authority or other organisation arranges the chosen support and manages the budget.
Option 3: The local authority chooses and arranges the support.
Option 4: A mixture of options 1, 2 and 3.
How to share your views
The Committee wants to hear from anyone who has a view on, or experience of, self- directed support, including those with lived experience of SDS, experts, staff and organisations supporting individuals in receipt of care, as well as the general public.
Please tell us what you, or the person you represent, think about the implementation of self-directed support to date using the following link: