Self-Directed Support in Scotland and people with mental health problems The Scottish Parliament has passed a new

law on social care support, the Social Care (Self-directed Support) (Scotland) Act 2013. The Act gives people a range of options for how their social care is delivered, beyond just direct payments, empowering people to decide how much on-going control and responsibility they want over their own support arrangements. Getting There is one of the capacity building projects which is supporting the implementation of SDS in Scotland. The project is supporting smaller voluntary organisations which deliver services and are led by the people who use those services. User-led providers are clear that this opportunity must be equally available to people with mental health problems. To support this, Outside the Box has commissioned the National Development Team for Inclusion (NDTi) to bring together existing evidence and practice on Self-Directed Support for people with mental health problems. This work will: Highlight the difference that Self-Directed Support can and does make for people with mental health problems Provide practical examples of how Self-Directed Support for people with mental health problems has worked Highlight what needs to be in place to ensure this happens. The work will be shared with all people with an interest in ensuring that people with mental health problems have the same opportunity to benefit from Self-Directed Support. This includes (but isnt limited to): Groups led by people with mental health problems, particularly those developing an understanding of SDS User-led service providers and independent support services

 Staff in local authorities, particularly those with responsibility in ensuring people with mental health problems can equally access SDS. Staff in CHCPs and other services which provide care and support to people who have mental health problems. The work is arranged in 3 parts: 1. Part 1 will look at what information exists on ensuring SelfDirected Support works for people with a mental health problem. 2. Part 2 will engage with local stakeholders to find out their experiences and perspectives on what needs to be in place for people with mental health problems when it comes to Self-Directed Support. 3. Part 3 will be the promotion of the findings of this work, in ways that will be straightforward to use for both people with mental health problems themselves and in peoples day-today work. We are aiming to complete the work by September 2013. For more information about this work, please contact either: Rich Watts (Mental Health Programme Lead at the National Development Team for Inclusion) on 01225 789135 or rich.watts@ndti.org.uk Anne Connor (Chief Executive of Outside the Box) on 0141 419 0451 or anne@otbds.org