1. HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE
This guide offers advice to people who are thinking about being in charge of their own social care support, or who are already doing so, but have questions about the process.
A summary of the key points from this guide is given in Chapter 2 'The basics'.
The main detail of the guide is given in Question and Answer format and it describes how self-directed support works, how you can set up your own support package and how to go about buying the support you need.
Some words appear in bold with an explanation to try to make things clear. Some recommended publications appear in italics. We have tried to make this guide as accurate and helpful as possible, but you should still check the information for yourself. This is particularly important for legal issues. The guide contains information on where you can go for extra help.
Where to find more information
Having read this guide you may still have many questions about self-directed support. You should not feel that you are the only person asking these questions. Local support services and local area co-ordinators are there to help you, and Annex A gives full contact details. They should be able to put you in touch with people who live near you who are already directing their own support and who can offer you this first hand experience of what it feels like to be in charge.
Local services have their own publications and leaflets on directing your own support. An easy guide to direct payments in Scotland is available from the Scottish Consortium for Learning Disability. Full National guidance on self-directed support has been published by the Scottish Government. More details are available at Annex B.