SDS Option 2
Option 2 is a way of choosing how your support budget is used, without managing the money yourself.
It’s sometimes called the best of both worlds.
This is because it is half way between Option 1, where you handle the money yourself and Option 3, where you let your council choose what’s best for you.
How does it work?
Option 2 is also sometimes called an Individual Service Fund, when your budget is managed by another organisation.
When you create a support plan with your social worker, you will agree what you need support to help you achieve, and what your budget will be. If you want to choose how to use your support budget, but you do not want the responsibility of managing money directly, Option 2 might be a good option for you.
In Option 2, an organisation holds your budget and manages the money on your behalf. This organisation could be your council or another organisation, such as a charity or support provider.
You choose how you want to be supported, who by, and how else you want to meet your outcomes. Your outcomes are the things you have agreed are important to you in your support plan.
An agreement should be written between you, your council and whatever support providers you choose, to describe how your outcomes will be met. This will include what budget you have available, and how the money will be managed.
This is Craig’s story: Self Directed Support — Dignity and Choice
Self-Directed Support Options
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Option One: A Direct Payment
You can use this to choose and control your support e.g. employing a personal assistant
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Option Two: Individual Service Fund
You choose what support you would like and the Local Authority makes the arrangement
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Option Three: Direct Service
The Local Authority selects the support and arranges it.
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Option Four: Mix & Match
You choose a mix of the available options that works for you.
Who can choose Option 2?
Everyone who is eligible for formal social care support through their council should be able to choose Option 2. This includes adults, children and young people, and people with any type of impairment or support need.
Option 2 must also be offered to unpaid carers who are eligible for support in their own right.
Norma (video) was interviewed as part of a Scottish Care project in Highland looking at improving older people's access to SDS.
What is the law?
The law about social care support is called the Social Care (Self Directed Support) (Scotland) Act 2013.
It says:
If you are eligible for formal social care support, the council has to tell you about the four Options, including Option 2.
Councils, by law, have to explain what each of the Options mean and how they work.
Councils also have to tell you about other people who can help you decide which Option you want to use.
If you need help to make a decision about which Option is best for you, and you do not have another adult who is legally allowed to make decisions for you, the council has to take reasonable steps to help you make a decision.
The council has to allow you to make a choice about which Option you prefer, even if making a choice is difficult for you.
You can see the full text of the law here.
The SDS Statutory Guidance is legal guidance written for local councils to tell them how social care support (Self-directed Support) should work.
It says:
Councils and social workers should not consider any of the four Options is better or preferable to the others.
You should be empowered to choose the Option that works best for you.
Your wishes and needs are the most important, even if you cannot make or understand decisions.
You can find the link to the part of the Guidance that talks about this here.
Download our SDS Resources
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How to prepare for an assessment
Download our top tips for accessing SDS
Your most asked questions
About Option 2
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By law, your council must offer you all four Options to enable you to decide how much choice, control and responsibility you want to have when it comes to your social care support.
In some areas, there are not a lot of organisations who manage people’s budgets if they choose Option 2. Even if this is the case, your council should give you all the information you need to choose whether Option 2 is right for you.
If you think you would like to use Option 2 but your council have not offered you it, it can be a good idea to speak to an Independent Support Organisation who can support you to challenge them.
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Some councils have a list of support providers they would like you to choose from. This list of support providers is also sometimes called a framework.
It can be helpful to use this list to give you an idea of what is available.
You do not have to choose from this list.
If you feel your outcomes (what is important to you) would be better achieved with support from someone else, or you have found local support that works for you, let your social worker know.
A local Independent Support Organisation, or the organisation that manages your budget for you, may also be able to let you know about other places you can get support from locally.
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Agreements between you, your council and any support provider you choose are not used everywhere, even though it is a good idea to have one in place.
Ask your social worker for one.
You and your support provider should have a copy of your support plan so they know how the money can be used.
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We know many organisations would like to hold Option 2 funds and handle people’s support budget for them, but this can cost them money so they are less likely to offer this service.
Talk to your social worker and ask them to speak to the commissioning team in the council about this.
More questions?