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Self Directed Support
Self directed support (SDS) is based on the principles of citizenship to ensure individuals who need social care have control over how their needs are assessed and how support is planned and delivered. It seeks to ensure everyone who wants to, is able to control as much of this as they wish and they can be supported to do that.
Many local authorities are now using this approach to deliver the support that people need instead of providing them with a particular service. It involves using a system to allocate an amount of money to an individual that is called an 'Individual Budget'.
The person then puts together a detailed support plan explaining how the Individual Budget will be spent to meet their needs. This plan is agreed with the local authority and the individual buys what they need as agreed in the support plan using this 'Individual Budget'.
If the person does not wish to or is unable to manage the Individual Budget themselves there are other ways in which this can be done. They are explained in Managing Your Budget. Self directed support sits within the overarching concept of personalisation which is about everyone having access to universal services: directing their own support allows people to access these in the same way that others who do need support can do.
PSS fully supports this way of working because it maximises the independence of people themselves using paid support only when necessary. We believe this builds strong communities which is a central feature of PSS' work. We can help people with all aspects of directing their own support.
If you would like to discuss this, please Contact Us.
