Resources and Downloads
Self-Directed Support
Jun 1, 2024
Choice and control through SDS
At ARC NI, we believe that everyone deserves the right to decide how they are supported and to live life their way.
Self-Directed Support (SDS) is about giving people with a learning disability, autism, and other support needs more choice, control, and independence over how their care and support is delivered.
With SDS, you decide what support you need, who provides it, and how it’s delivered—so your care fits your life, rather than the other way around.
Your Support, Your Choice.
Why SDS Matters?
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Promotes Independence – Helps people live with more freedom, dignity, and control.
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Personalised Support – Tailors care to each person’s unique needs and goals.
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Voice and Choice – Gives people a say in planning and directing their own support.
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Better Quality of Life – Focuses on what matters most to the individual, improving well-being.
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Supports Inclusion and Equality – Ensures equal access to opportunities and community life.
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Empowers Families and Carers – Involves them in shaping support and easing their responsibilities
What is a Personal Budget?
At the heart of SDS is the Personal Budget. This is the money available to meet your assessed health and social care needs. You and your Health and Social Care Trust will agree how this money is used. It’s written into a support plan, which sets out what outcomes you want to achieve and how the budget will help you get there.
You can write your support plan yourself, or with help from family, friends, support workers, or an advocate.
What are the 4 SDS Options?
You can choose one or a combination of the following four options for managing your Personal Budget:
- Direct Payments
You get the money directly to buy the support you need. You choose who provides the support and manage the payments yourself (or with help). - Managed Budget
You decide how your money is spent, but the Health and Social Care Trust handles the money and does the paperwork. - Trust-arranged Support
The Health and Social Care Trust arranges and pays for your care directly, using your Personal Budget. - A Mix of Options
You can combine the above in a way that works best for your life – for example, using Direct Payments for some things and Trust-arranged support for others.
TILII member, David, explains the importance of Self-Directed Support through Direct Payments.
- Self-Directed Support
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- Self-Directed Support Guide – Easy Read, BHSCT
- Personalised Approaches: Self Directed Support An approach that puts you in control – HSCB
- SDS User Guide – HSCB
- Direct Payments Booklet – HSCB
- Self Directed Support and Adult Social Care NI – ARK, 2024