Transcript Self-directed Support

Achieving positive change for people who use mental
health services
Craig Flunkert
Self-directed Support Team
Self-directed Support
VISION
The quality of life of people who require care
and support is improved through increased
choice and control over the support they
receive.
'putting people at the heart..’
The vision…continued….
 Increased choice for all and increased control
for those who want it. Choices being….direct
payment; individual service fund; or just more
choice/flexibility in arranged services.
 Open to all people eligible for social care
regardless of age, disability, category of need,
social status, ethnic background etc…
 A focus on values and practice, not excessive
rules and regulations
 A genuine mainstream approach at the heart of
integrated health and social care
 Maximum flexibility to meet agreed outcomes
The Bill on SDS
• Duty to offer the choices and act on the person’s choice
(adults, carers and children)
• Duty to explain nature and effect of options & to signpost
people to information & support
• Power to offer support to carers + duty to offer SDS
options for that support
• Duty to promote the availability of the SDS options
• The “circles of support” duties
• Legislative principles: collaboration, informed choice,
involvement
Guidance on the Bill will make it clear that this policy will only succeed
if social work departments implement on the basis of an “exchange
model” of assessment, one which focuses on the conversation between
professional and individual and the outcomes that the person wants to
achieve.
And the great myths about SDS policy?
• “SDS is direct payments and direct payments only”
• “People – including people with mental health problems will be forced to take a direct payment”
• “There is a grand plan to cut peoples budgets using
SDS”
• “This will mean that the duty to meet social care needs
passes from councils to individuals”
• “People can have their benefits removed if they accept
direct payments”
• “Direct payments are different to social care and support”
• “This policy will mean the end of council and voluntary
sector services.”
• “SDS means I have to change what I have at the
moment”
Self-directed Support
2 of the biggest myths…
“SDS is the end of social care”
“SDS is the answer to all of social care’s
problems”
The legal framework after this Bill?
Duty to promote social
welfare (1968 Act)
Duty to assess needs
– 1968 Act
Principles of assessment:
collaboration / informed choice
/ involvement (SDS Bill)
Duty to offer choice
(SDS Bill)
Duty to explain nature and
effect of choices (SDS Bill)
“Circles of support” duties –
SDS Bill
Duty to assess carers
(1968 Act)
Power to support carers
(SDS Bill)
Duty to provide
advocacy (2003 Act)
Adult Support and Protection
duties and powers
Mental Health Care and
Treatment Act duties and
powers
Adults with Incapacity Act
duties and powers
Direct payments, ISFs and people
with mental health problems
What does the evidence tell us?
• It can work – but it might not work for everybody.
• Back up plans, advance statements
• Options will less responsibility can work out
better for people who struggle with stress,
demands etc…
• Information & support
• Risk identification, enablement and
management
• Circles of support, attorneys and guardians
Self-directed Support
A theme for our discussion?
issues
and
solutions
[email protected]
www.selfdirectedsupportscotland.org.uk