Making Sense of SDS: a workshop session for

providers

Dr Donald Macaskill

10-10.40  Introduction and aims Presentation on main issues in Guidance 

  10.40 Workshop session one: The Four options - Assessment and Support planning 11.15-11.30 Break 11.30-12.30  Workshop session two Review and reassessment Risk and safeguarding Organisational issues - Finance, training, marketing, engagement of those who use services 

 12.30-13.00 General Q and A

The core Values and Principles of the SDS

Act 

 

Statutory Values and Principles of the Act

• Informed choice

• Collaboration

• Involvement• Participation and dignity

Practice Act

PracticeAct

Respect

Fairness

Independence

Freedom

Safety

Overview of the Supported Person’s

Pathway

Towards new models of assessment

“Alice came to a fork in the road. 'Which road do I take?' she asked.'Where do you want to go?' responded the Cheshire Cat.'I don't know,' Alice answered.'Then,' said the Cat, 'it doesn't matter.” ― Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

What people say of their experience of a “poor assessment?”

“They were late, kept looking at their watch from the minute they walked through my door

and didn’t seem to care”

“She was obviously

working from her own list and didn’t

listen”

It was awful! One of the worst

experiences of my life! They focused on all the things I couldn’t do and

made me feel even more useless”

He spent more time talking to the carers’ than

me. I felt left out of the conversation all the time”

“It was just a tick box

exercise most of the questions

didn’t even mean anything

to me” People don’t seem to realise how difficult it is

to open up to a complete stranger about

very personal things” How would you feel?”

“it was a bit scary, it felt like a test that I had to pass or fail to

get the help I needed”

“ I didn’t really understand what an assessment was and why I

was being assessed”

What people say about their experience of a “good assessment”

“She didn’t try to fix everything and helped me see that there was lots of things I could achieve myself”

“The social worker was honest with me and kept me

informed on what happens next”

“I had time to talk things through and was

encouraged to make my own decisions in my

own time “

“I was treated as a person and

not just a number or case”

“They really

listened to me”

“He asked the right

questions”

“I had time to build up my confidence and trust as it was the same person that helped me with my assessment and monitors my support plan!

“They seemed genuinely interested in getting to know me as a person and what had been important in the past and what was important to me now!”

What do people want?

What matters most?

The Talking Points Approach (Miller and Cook) suggests it is helpful for an individual to consider the following areas during assessment.

• being as well as possible • improved confidence • having friendships and relationships • social contact • feeling safe • living independently • being included

Shifting the balance of Power

SDS relies on CO-PRODUCTION in identifying and agreeing outcomes and support plans

(SDS National Strategy, Scottish Government 2010).

Co-production re-defines the relationshipbetween the public service professional and the

service user; it involves breaking downbarriers and creating a more collaborative and

equal relationship.

Deficit led versus Strengths based

Deficit Led Model

Focuses on problems

Can leave people feeling dis-empowered

Often the only way to access services

Strengths Based Model

Focuses on solutions

Values the capacity, skills and potential people

possess

Person supported to be empowered

Opportunity to use alternative, creative

approaches

Six Senses Support Plan

Security

Continuity

Belonging

Purpose

Achievement

Significance

Option one|: A direct paymentOption two: The person getting the support directing the support and having a budget but not the moneyOption three: The local authority organising the services that the person wantsOption four: A combination of the other options – ‘mix and match’. 

The four options:

The Seven Key elements in

support planning

A Support plan has to answer these questions:

• What is important to you? • What do you want to change? • How will you arrange your support? • How will you spend your money? • How will you manage your support? • How will you stay in control? • What will you do next?

Creative support planning

The branding of Self-Directed Support is powerful a commitment and statement of intent

My Life My Choice

My life My Plan

Your Support Your Choice

Not about me without me

Monitoring and review

At each review, the four options must be offered formally again, even if there are no changes required. How this is evidenced ,it must be considered by the practitioner and included in local review recording process. It may be helpful for the practitioner to see reviews as a natural extension of support planning. At any time, the supported person can ask to change their option (which should be dealt with by the same process as they made their previous choice) or they may ask for their assessment, support plan, or budget to be reviewed.

Reviews

review of the support applies to all four options under the SDS Act. Review involves re-evaluating whether the plan is achieving the agreed goals and outcomes set out in the support plan.

the views of the person with regard to such issues as- the support provided; feeling safe in their home and local community; their level of social inclusion; their personal development; and/ or any caring roles they undertake- should all be explored and changes to the support plan discussed and agreed.

the Act makes it clear that the local authority and the supported person have the right to request a review of their selected Option under the SDS Act if there is a change in the supported person’s circumstances/ if there is evidence that outcomes are not being met as anticipated.

Reviews

Risk enablement

The supported person should be assisted to feel safe and secure in all aspects of life, to enjoy safety but not to be over-protected and, in so far as possible, to be free from exploitation and abuse.

(Statutory Guidance)

14.1 The Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007 (“the 2007 Act”) provides the legal framework for the protection of adults who are unable to safeguard their own interests. It is based on the fundamental principles that the intervention must provide benefit to the adult and is the least restrictive option to the adult's freedom. These principles should be at the heart of all risk planning and enablement. (Statutory Guidance

Making Sense of SDSA series of guides for providers

Guide 1: An introduction to self-directed support Guide 2: The values and principles of self-directed supportGuide 3: Outcome assessments and support planning – the provider’s roleGuide 4: The Four SDS ChoicesGuide 5: Risk enablement and adult protectionGuide 6: Care homes (residential care) and self-directed support

Questions

Making the SDS Journey A series of practice hints and tips

• Human resources and workforce development

• Finance • Inspection and regulation• Marketing and communication• Involving people who use

services • Personalising your services• Identifying creative options

People as Partners Project

http://www.scottishcare.org/people-as-partners/

Dr Donald Macaskilldonald.macaskill@scottishcare.org

Tel: 07545 847382