The National SDS Collaboration works together to co-produce policy, and writes collective responses to consultations on behalf of the SDS community.
The National SDS Collaboration brings together Scotland’s largest and most diverse network of people working to improve the implementation of Self-directed Support.
We come together to share learning and gather intelligence and use this to influence national policy on social care support.
Established in 2022, the Collaboration represents a diverse range of national and local stakeholders working to improve the implementation of SDS.
The Collaboration played a key role in developing the national strategy for SDS implementation, the SDS Improvement Plan 2023 – 2027. You can find out more about this work here.
Self-Directed Support Scotland chair the National SDS Collaboration and Social Work Scotland’s SDS Project team act as secretary for the group.
Our work supports these four outcomes from the SDS Improvement Plan:
1. supported person and carer’s choice over their support, where success means access to information, advice and advocacy, access to quality support, and control and involvement for supported people over how it is delivered.
2. enhanced worker skills, practice and autonomy, where success means workers across all aspects of social care support are better able to practice in line with SDS values and with statutory duties (where applicable), standards, skills, and knowledge.
3. systems and culture, where success means national and local SDS system and planning design is more person-centred and person-led, including through involving supported people and carers.
4. leaders understand and help staff realise SDS principles and values, where success means duty-bearers and senior staff supporting their workforce and creating the culture and conditions for supported people to have choice and control over their social care support