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

Standard 1: Independent Support, Community Brokerage and Advocacy

Standard descriptor: People are offered independent support, community brokerage and advocacy to have choice and control over their own or their child’s social care and support, and to exercise their human rights.

Practice statement: Every Local Authority/Health and Social Care Partnership provides information about independent support, community brokerage and advocacy for anyone who needs it, in ways which are accessible to everyone.

Core Components and practice guidance

1.1 The right to independent support, community brokerage and advocacy for people and carers who need it is upheld under Self-directed Support legislation and the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 and is supported through the articles of the UNCRC and principles of GIRFEC.

How to:

• Children, young people, families, supported people and carers have the right to express views and to be supported. All must be listened to and meaningfully involved in decision-making about their care.
• A compassionate, caring, person-led culture is one that is focused on people. Advocacy helps to make this a reality for those children, young people, families, supported people and carers who, for whatever reason, would not otherwise be able or allowed to share their views.

1.2 People feel confident that the independent support they receive is right for them and is tailored to their needs with specialist provision being available for specific vulnerable groups.

How to:

• Local partners should ensure that a range of independent support and resources are available which are flexible and easy to access to meet the needs and circumstances of children, young people, families, supported people and carers.
• Local partners should record when this provision cannot be provided and when independent support needs are not met, and how this will be addressed.

1.3 Independent support, community brokerage and advocacy are inclusive, accessible and addresses communication barriers.

How to:

• An inclusive approach needs to acknowledge the variety of ways that people communicate.
• It should also take into account a range of barriers including gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, class and other forms of discrimination, and should ensure that addressing one barrier does not create further inequalities.

1.4 Independent support, community brokerage and advocacy are provided as early as possible and for as long as is needed to support the processes of good conversation, assessment, planning and review, and to support Personal Assistant employers.

How to:

• Local partners should provide opportunities for all to access independent support, community brokerage and advocacy by setting up clear referral pathways.
• Everyone should recognise the role of independent support, community brokerage and advocacy in informing plans, assessment and review.
• Social work practitioners should consider provision of independent support, community brokerage and advocacy for people from the outset. This should be provided as early as people need it, and for as long as is required. It may be important for some people to be able to access this support anonymously.
• Independent support should be offered to Personal Assistant (PA) employers which supports the mutual relationship between PA employers and Personal Assistants.
• Partners should build capacity within peer support organisations, e.g. Centres for Inclusive Living (CILs), disabled people’s organisations (DPOs).

1.5 Independent support, community brokerage and advocacy play a role in working with people, their carers and workers to identify outcomes and to help to inform or co-produce the person’s plan.

How to:

• Partners should work together to produce a plan that is core to the principles of wider Adults’ and Children’s legislation, and is reflected in GIRFEC and GIRFE. This includes a child’s or young person’s plan, adult’s support plan, young carer’s statement, and adult carer’s support plan.

1.6 Independent support, community brokerage, and advocacy operate within clear frameworks and guidelines to ensure consistent practice throughout Scotland.

How to:

• Independent support, community brokerage and advocacy organisations make evidence available on the quality of their provision.
• Local authorities develop clear referral pathways for those identified as needing independent support, community brokerage and advocacy, to ensure that people receive the support they need.
• Local authorities and independent support organisations provide opportunities to work collaboratively in the best interests of people and to develop trusting relationships and a shared understanding of roles and responsibilities. This should include the range of individuals and organisations providing support and advocacy.
• Independent support, community brokerage and advocacy providers have access to training on risk enablement, child and adult protection, adults with incapacity and mental health as well as opportunities to develop training collaboratively and to share learning. It’s also important for providers to understand the full range of neurodiverse experiences, and the experiences of those living with dementia.
• Independent support, community brokerage and advocacy providers should be involved in strategic planning, including community action planning, review and commissioning processes.
• Independent support, community brokerage and advocacy providers should be involved in local Self-directed Support improvement planning so that they can work closely with locality teams to improve implementation of Self-directed Support in communities.
• Local authorities should view challenges made by independent support, community brokerage and advocacy organisations as opportunities to learn from people’s accounts of their own needs, not as a threat to systems and processes.