The Enablers and Barriers to Voluntary Sector Organisations Providing Personalised Support through Delivery of Self Directed Support: Part Two: The Experience of SDS

This is the second tranche of research exploring the implementation of Self-directed Support (SDS) conducted for Providers & Personalisation (which is hosted by CCPS.) Following on from our first (Eccles & Cunningham, 2016) on the enablers and barriers in the voluntary sector, this report explored what was happening in local authorities. Thirty- five people with roles ranging across strategic, operational, commissioning and front-line positions were interviewed, across five local authorities, which were in themselves reflective of a range of urban/rural mixes. The full details of our methods are available in the body of the report. The findings point to significant implementational complexities based on (1) local authorities being at different stages of implementation (2) the logistical challenges of introducing new ways of working while still delivering on statutory responsibilities (3) very uneven access to commissioning bodies across different localities and (4) a major organisational challenge presented by SDS being implemented at the same time as health and social care integration.