Social care - self-directed support: framework of standards - May 2024

Standard 9: Transparency

Standard descriptor: People are supported by organisations that are open, honest and accountable for decisions, actions and their consequences. These qualities of transparency can help build trust, credibility and respect as well as avoid conflicts and misunderstandings.

Practice statement: Practice, systems and processes are clearly understood and are explained in ways that make sense to everyone involved. Discussion between practitioners and children, young people, families, supported people and carers makes clear the options and services, short term and long-term support, finance and budget that are available. All decisions, including decisions about risk, that affect a person’s choices, support, and personal budget are recorded and shared with them.

Core Components and practice guidance

9.1 Leaders create a culture which supports relationship-based practice, and design systems which support timely responses and promote transparency.

How to:

• Leaders need to be transparent about the rationale for decision-making including discussions around eligibility criteria, financial contributions, budgets, service provision and workforce capacity.

9.2 Good conversations support transparency in communication and create the conditions for relationship-based practice.

How to:

• Good conversations are recognised as an intervention and should not be mechanistic or transactional.
• Consideration should be given to whether people need support, or someone to facilitate conversations, so that they can articulate how they feel about the support that they receive, including how that could be different.
• Good conversations need to be facilitated in a way that gives enough time to hear people’s voices fully.

9.3 People are told the likely level of the budget available irrespective of the option they choose.

How to:

• It is important to have transparency about available budgets before support planning takes place. This allows people to exercise creativity and autonomy.
• If there is a decision-making panel in place, it has a responsibility to communicate with the person and the practitioner the reasons behind all decisions that are made regarding funding.

9.4 It is recognised that different people with similar circumstances may require different budgets depending on their own strengths, assets, and family and community supports.

How to:

• Different levels of funding may be available in different situations, so it is important to explain policies, procedures, financial decisions, any offer of services and how the Self-directed Support standards are implemented locally.
• Practitioners including social workers, community care workers, occupational therapists and community link workers have knowledge and awareness of technology, aids and adaptations and what is available in the community to help people direct their support.

9.5 In the course of accessing support, people can see what is written about them and there is a timely response in providing access to this information.

How to:

• What is written in assessments, plans and reviews should be produced collaboratively. Relationship-based practice supports this.
• People should be able to see information written about themselves whenever this is requested through an easy and timely process.

9.6 Children, young people, families, supported people and carers have a voice in the development of policy and practice.

How to:

• People are allowed to have a central role in shaping policy and practice.
• Regular engagement is needed to ensure their voice helps to shape ideas and developments as well as reflect on current policy and practice.
• People should be supported to have a voice which may include a range of support being offered and a variety of approaches being taken, such as community-based engagement, to encourage participation.