The 4 options
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How should self-directed support work for the supported person?
There are four main options or ways of directing support. When making these choices, a supported person can choose to have lots of direct control over their care and support, or choose to leave most of the decisions and work to the local authority, or choose a mix of these.
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Video from Self Directed Support Scotland, hosted on Vimeo.
Option 1 - direct payment
The supported person receives a direct payment.
The local authority will decide how much money they will give to the supported person towards their support. The supported person receives this money and uses it to arrange their own support, which can include employing staff and/or buying goods and services. The supported person has full choice and control and also has the most responsibility for arranging support, which may include employer responsibilities.
Option 2 - individual service fund
The supported person decides on the support they want, and support is arranged on their behalf.
NHS Highland will decide how much money they will give to the supported person towards their support. The supported person can use the money to choose goods and services, for example from a registered support or other approved provider, and then the support is arranged on their behalf. This can be arranged by NHS Highland or a third party (such as a support provider) managing the money on behalf of the supported person. This way, the supported person has full choice and control over how their support is arranged but does not have to manage the money.
Option 3 - directly provided service
After discussion with the supported person, the local authority decides and arranges support.
The local authority will decide how much money can be spent. The supported person asks the local authority to choose and arrange the support that it thinks is right for them. With this choice the supported person is not responsible for arranging support, and has less direct choice and control over how support is arranged.
Option 4 - mix of option 1, 2 and/or 3
The supported person uses a mixture of ways to arrange their care and support.
Some people will want to have direct control of how some parts of their support is arranged but not other parts. Option 4 lets the supported person pick the parts they want to have direct control over and what parts they want to leave to the local authority.
The 4 options
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Option 1
Direct payment
Self-directed support
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Outcomes-focused assessment
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