What Self-directed Support is
Self-directed Support (SDS) is the way social care is arranged in Scotland. It is designed to give people more choice and control over their support. It starts with a social care assessment from the local council.
Option 1: Direct payment
The council gives you money to arrange your own support, for example by employing carers or buying care from a provider. This gives the most control, and also the most responsibility.
Option 2: Individual Service Fund
You choose the support and the provider you want, and the council or the provider manages the money for you. You make the decisions without handling the budget yourself.
Option 3: Council-arranged support
The council chooses and arranges support on your behalf.
Option 4: A mix
You choose which parts of your support you manage yourself and which the council arranges.
How to start
Contact your local council’s social work service and ask for an assessment. If you are eligible, you and the council agree a support plan and choose an option. Unpaid carers can ask for a carer’s assessment too.
This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. Rules and charges can change, so check with your local council. mygov.scot and Care Information Scotland have more detail.