Self-directed Support Strategy 2010-2020: Implementation Plan 2016-2018

Strategic Outcome 2

Workers are confident and valued

People who work in health and social care have increased skills, knowledge and confidence to deliver Self-directed Support and understand its implications for their practice, culture and ways of working.

What has changed?

Over phases 1 and 2 of the Self-directed Support Strategy we have observed that:

• Workers and operational managers tell us they have increased skills, knowledge and confidence in implementing Self-directed Support.
• Workers and operational managers are recognised and supported to deliver strength based, outcomes-focused support for individuals.
• Social care providers are changing the way that they organise and deliver support, adopting a more person-centred, outcomes-focused approach.
• Organisations have fostered a culture of continual learning and development and reflective practice.
• Technology is being used more effectively to share information and innovations across a diverse workforce.

What we will do during 2016-18 to facilitate change

The Scottish Government will:

• Continue to invest in SSSC Integration and Self-directed Support workforce development programme to build the confidence and capacity of workers in health and social care partnerships for problem solving and improvement approaches.
• Continue to invest in Social Work Scotland programme to support the integrated partnership workforce to better understand and implement
  Self-directed Support.
• Continue to invest in Providers and Personalisation (P&P), a policy and practice change programme hosted by CCPS. The programme will deliver workshops and events to share practice; discuss and address challenges; and explore the application of Self-directed Support in new service areas www.ccpscotland.org/pp/.
• Continue to invest in the 21 projects of the Innovation Fund to enable third sector organisations to promote culture change that will enable more flexible and creative social care support.
• Review the actions in the Vision and Strategy for Social Services to create a socially just Scotland with excellent social services delivered by a skilled and valued workforce.

Success

We will know this outcome is being achieved when:

• There is a shared understanding across the whole workforce, including for example finance and administration, of what Self-directed Support is and how it can work.
• The workforce and supported people feel more confident in managing risk together, and develop a culture that supports innovation and creativity. This will balance the need for protection and compliance with legislation.
• There is an understanding of how to support practice which is focused on assets, personal outcomes and prevention is widespread, within the context of reduced public funding.
• More communities will be engaged in addressing needs within their communities.
• There will be a sustainable social care workforce who are equipped and endorsed to work collaboratively and develop partnerships at both a local and national level.