Adults & older people - Self directed support

Your support, your way

Anyone who has been assessed as needing social care or community care support can choose how their care and support is arranged by using Self Directed Support. An assessment with a social care worker will confirm what kind of support you need, and your individual budget. You can then decide how this budget is used and how your care and support is delivered by choosing from four options:

Option 1: Receive a direct payment to choose and arrange your own support.
Option 2: Choose your support, then tell someone else to arrange it.
Option 3: Falkirk Council chooses and arranges your support.
Option 4: A mix of options 1,2 or 3.

You can use these options to arrange the support identified during your assessment. This might include:

Personal care support to get washed, dressed, or use the toilet.
Support at home to prepare meals, eat, or drink.
Getting around your community to shop, meet friends, work, or take part in activities.
Help to care for someone else close to you.

To receive an assessment and discuss the options available to you, contact your local social work team. If you are not eligible for funded support, we can discuss other resources which could meet your needs.

About your options

Option 1 – You choose and arrange

Receive a direct payment to choose and arrange your own support.

You will receive money (a direct payment) from Falkirk Council to purchase services, activities, and items which meet your care and support needs. Through this option, you can directly employ a personal assistant to provide support, or you can purchase support from an agency or organisation.

You will be responsible for managing the contracts or employment details you enter into. It is your responsibility to ensure you meet the statutory employer requirements such as pension contributions, tax arrangements, or annual leave allowances.

Option 2 – You choose and tell

Choose your support and tell Falkirk Council or another provider to arrange it.

You will decide the services, activities, and items you want to access to meet your needs. These will be paid on your behalf by either Falkirk Council or an Individual Service Fund – where a provider holds your budget for you.

Option 3 – We choose and arrange

Falkirk Council chooses and arranges your support.

You can request your local authority, Falkirk Council, to choose, arrange, and pay for the care and support you need. This option is necessary if the individual requiring care does not have capacity, a legal guardian, or a Power of Attorney to make decisions on their behalf.

Option 4 – A mix of options 1,2, or 3

Choose different options for different areas of your care.

This option lets you combine options 1, 2, or 3 – allowing you to control some parts of your support while telling Falkirk Council or a provider to arrange other elements. This flexible approach helps you take responsibility and control of only the areas of care you are comfortable with.

For example, the care available from Falkirk Council using option 3 may meet most of your care needs at home, but you also want to pay a personal assistant using option 1 to help you get out and about. You choose the options you need to meet all of the care and support needs we have identified together.

Frequently asked questions

Table of contents

Who should I contact to talk about social care support?

You can phone your local social work team on 01324 50 60 70 (then option 3 for Social Work) to request an assessment. After you have completed an assessment, our local independent support service, Self Directed Support Forth Valley, can help you understand and choose between the four options.

How are my care and support needs identified?

We will assess what support you need by discussing your person goals and identifying how we can meet them. If you meet the criteria for funded care and support, we will then create a support plan with your social care worker and identify your individual budget. This will allow you to consider which of the four Self Directed Support options you wish to choose to arrange your care.

To help you explore or choose between the options, you can access information and support from Self Directed Support Forth Valley – our local independent support service.

If you are not eligible for funded support, we can discuss other resources which could meet your needs.

What funding (budget) am I eligible for?

Your funding allocation will depend on your personal circumstances. This includes things such as age, income, health, and which services you need to access. Your support and budget will be reviewed periodically or if there is a change in your circumstances. You also have the right to request a review.

What can I spend my budget on?

You will be able to purchase goods, services, and support which help meet the needs and goals we have identified together during your assessment, and which are eligible for funding. This might include:

Purchasing aids, equipment, or home adaptations which help you live independently.
Employing a Personal Assistant (PA)
Purchasing support from an agency or organisation.
Employing someone who lives in the same household as you, in certain circumstances.
Paying for activities and services to be more involved in your community.
Purchasing respite care.
Support to attend education, volunteering opportunities, or employment.

There are often spending limits on some purchases, activities, or costs. These will be explained to you while considering the support you need and the options you can explore.

Can someone help me decide?

During your assessment, we will discuss the four options. We will not make a decision for you or suggest which might be best. You must be able to manage the option you choose. You can receive help to understand or choose between the options from Self Directed Support Forth Valley – our local independent support service.

Can I switch between options later?

It is possible to switch between options if you change your mind, or if your care and support needs change. You should contact your social work team and Self Directed Support Forth Valley if you feel your chosen options and arrangements are not meeting your needs. If switching between options, you will need to consider your responsibilities as an employer if you have chosen to directly employ staff under option 1.

How can I find a care provider?

Self Directed Support Forth Valley can provide a list of potential care providers in your local area and provide the basic information about becoming an employer if you are considering using option 1 to directly employ a personal assistant.

Organisations and service providers of care in Scotland are required to register with the Care Inspectorate. You can use the Inspectorate's Care Register to find a service and read their latest quality grades or inspection reports.

Can I employ a member of my family to provide care?

It is possible to employ a family member to provide your care or support, if we agree this is the most appropriate arrangement for you. You should carefully consider whether employing a family member is right for you, especially if they live in the same household. While this may seem convenient, it can be difficult to separate between paid and unpaid support.

You may be able to employ a family member if;