Many people need to draw on some support in order to enhance their wellbeing and independence. Self-directed support empowers people to direct their care - to have informed choice and control about how their support is provided.
More than 100,000 Scots of all ages receive social care and support.
This will include people who have a physical disability, people who are elderly and infirm, people who have a learning disability, sensory impairment, dementia, mental health problem, autism and a range of long-term conditions.
Those who receive support should be at the heart of decision making about that support.
In 2010 we published our 10-year strategy to grow self-directed support. Together, the Bill and the strategy aim to deliver our vision for social care, where support is based around the citizen, not the service.
The Bill
The Bill (as introduced) is now available on the Scottish Parliament website. If enacted, the Bill will
:
- introduce the language and terminology of self-directed support into statute;
- provide a consistent, clear framework in law;
- impose firm duties on local authorities to provide the various options available to citizens - making it clear that it is the citizen's choice as to how much choice and control they want to have;
- widen eligibility to those who have been excluded up to this point, such as carers; and
- consolidate, modernise and clarify existing laws on direct payments.
Latest news
- March 2012 - The Bill was officially launched by the Minister for Public Health, Michael Matheson. The Scottish Parliament's Health and Sport Committee issued a call for written views.
- February 2012 - The Bill was introduced to the Scottish Parliament. This is the next step in the legislative process.
- October 2011 - The Government published its detailed response to the consultation on a draft Bill, which concluded earlier in 2011.