Scotland’s parliamentary committee for health and social care is set to investigate how self-directed support is working, where it has been successful and what barriers may be limiting its success 10 years since its introduction.

Hailed as an ambitious policy on its introduction in 2013, which has allowed individuals greater choice and control over their care and support, self-directed support delivery has been plagued with challenges around excessive bureaucracy, inequalities in access and growing waiting times.

Now, Holyrood’s Health, Social Care and Sport Committee says it is seeking to hear from anyone with experience or a view of self-directed support, including  individuals, organisations and care sector staff.

The Committee says its post-legislative scrutiny of the Act will investigate whether self-directed support is achieving desired outcomes and if not, what is causing a lack of progress.

Clare Haughey MSP, Convener of the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee, said:

“The Self-directed Support Act was introduced ten years ago but we’ve heard from stakeholders that there are still issues with its implementation.

“The Act intended to enable people to take control of and empower them to make their own decisions about what social care support they receive, to ensure it meets their needs.

“We want to know if these aims are being realised.”

SDS presents four options for receiving support – from direct payments to be managed by the individual for their own care, to support plans and payments that are implemented by the local authority.

While the fundamental principles of participation and dignity, involvement, informed choice and collaboration underpin the SDS legislation, it has been criticised as ‘inconsistent and unpredictable’ in the past.

All social care in Scotland is expected to be delivered in line with these principles.

The Committee’s scrutiny of the SDS legislation will be carried out in two phases, with this first phase exploring views on the implementation of SDS support so far, through both informal engagement and stakeholders’ written evidence.

During the second phase, the Committee expects to hear formally from witnesses and produce its final report to the Scottish government sometime next year.

Last year, a charity called for improved clarity and regulation around the ‘underutilised’ option 2 within SDS, which offers partial involvement of the local authority in delivering care.

Michael McEwan also shared that the implementation of SDS has fallen short of its ‘ambitious goals’ and is seen as a postcode lottery by recipients.

Now, the Convener of the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee says:

“We are keen to hear how self-directed support is working, where it has been successful and what barriers may be limiting its success.

“We’d encourage anyone who has a view on, or experience of, self-directed support, to let us know their views. We’d particularly like to hear from those with lived experience of SDS, staff and organisations supporting individuals in receipt of care, as well as the general public.”

The call for views has been extended until 12 January 2024 and the Committee expects to publish its final report to the Scottish government later in 2024.

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