Self-directed Support: Draft Guidance on Care & Support - Easy-Read Summary

Section 3 Values and principles

The Self-directed Support Act and the Guidance are based on values and principles.

These values and principles are the thoughts and ideas at the centre of self-directed support.

Professional staff must remember these values and principles when they use the Act and the Guidance.

Values

The values in this Guidance are:

Respect
Fairness
Independence
Freedom
Safety

Principles

Principles are about the way that people do things and how they put values into practice.

There are 5 principles that professional staff must follow. There are another 3 principles that are good practice too.

The principles apply when someone's needs are being assessed and when looking at choices as part of support planning.

Principles

Collaboration

This principle is in the Act.

The professional and the person getting support must work together on the assessment, the support plan and making sure the person gets the support they need.

Dignity

This principle is in the Act.

The professional must respect the person's right to dignity.

Informed choice

This principle is in the Act.

The person getting support must get the help they need to understand all the choices and to be able to decide what choice to make.

Innovation

This principle is good practice

The professional and the person getting support can look for new and different ways to enable the person to achieve all the outcomes in the person's support plan.

An outcome is something that happens as a result of something that you or someone else does.

Involvement

This principle is in the Act.

The person getting support must be able to help decide what goes into their support plan and how their support is arranged.

Participation

This principle is in the Act.

As part of their support plan, the person must be able to take part in the life of their local and wider community.

Responsibility

This principle is good practice

The person getting support can have as much control over their support as they wish. But they must use this control properly, including following the law and any other rules.

Enabling Risk

This principle is good practice

The person getting support should feel safe and secure and be free from abuse. At the same time, they should get the chance to take some risks so they can learn new skills and do new things.

Think about Section 3. Is the information clear?