SDSS AGM 2024
Date: 13 November 2024
Time: 10.30am - 3.00pm
Location: Online via Teams
Join us for our Annual General Meeting to hear about our work over the past year, our current projects, and keynote presentations from across the sector.
SDSS members will also hear about our annual accounts and have the chance to vote on our Board members.
And we’ll have a range of interactive workshops to explore the latest developments in Self-directed Support.
Programme for the day
10.30 am – Self Directed Support Scotland’s AGM
SDSS Members are invited to join us to hear about our work over the past year, our financial accounts, and vote on the election of Board members.
AGM agenda:
- Welcome and apologies
- Previous Minutes
- Chair’s report
- Treasurer’s report
- Appointment of Trustees
- Approve Independent Inspection of Accounts by Alan Grieg for 24/25
- Any other competent business
- Close
11.20 am – Break
11.30 am – Presentations
SDSS members and others attendees are welcome to join us for the rest of the programme.
11.30 am – Donald Macleod, CEO, SDS Scotland
Hear about our achievements over the past year, our current projects and priorities.
11.45 am – Christina McLaren, Unit Head for Ethical Commissioning and PA Policy, Adult Social Care Workforce & Fair Work Division in Scottish Government
Christina McLaren, co-chair of the Personal Assistant Programme Board, joins us to discuss the latest developments in policy affecting Personal Assistants and Employers, and the upcoming work of the Programme Board.
12.10 pm – Donna Murray, Social Work Scotland SDS Project Team
Donna Murray joins us to share the soon to be published SDS Standard 13, which aims to identify what good looks like for a Direct Payment for employing Personal Assistants under Option 1.
12.35pm – Mark Han-Johnston, SDS Scotland
Following publication of the final reports from our By My Side project, which looked into people’s experiences of independent support in Scotland, Mark shares findings and insights from the research and discusses how these can support the further development of independent SDS support.
1.00 pm – Lunch break
1.45 pm – Workshops
Attendees can choose to attend one of a selection of workshops (details below).
You can choose your preferred workshop when you book your ticket – those who have already booked to attend will be contacted separately to choose their workshop.
3.00 pm – Close
Workshops
1. VOCAL about Independent Living: SDS and unpaid carers
Join Sharon Leitch and Iain McGregor, Carer Brokerage Practitioners from VOCAL in Midlothian and Edinburgh, for a conversation led workshop on Self-Directed Support and unpaid carers. We want to understand the experience of unpaid carers across Scotland, accessing SDS for the person they care for and for themselves. The workshop will explore successes and challenges from Sharon and Iain’s perspectives and hear from workshop participants about their experiences supporting unpaid carers to access SDS.
2. Pre-assessment support – learning from partnership working between Independent Support and HSCPs in Forth Valley
Well Worthwhile Waiting is a project borne from the collaborative and positive working partnership between local disabled persons organisation SDS Forth Valley and Falkirk and Stirling & Clackmannanshire HSCPs. This project allows supported people, carers and families to understand the pathway to support via SDS and understand outcomes and support planning before they have had their assessment. Whilst still in the early stages of rollout what has been encouraging is the momentum and willingness for all parties to work together. Come along and find out how a similar approach may work in your area.
3. Self-evaluation for Independent Support Organisations – a tool to support learning
Join SDS Scotland’s Mark Han-Johnston to learn more about a self-evaluation tool that has been developed over the past year in partnership with Independent Support Organisations across Scotland. The tool aims to help organisations better understand their practice and how it supports Standard 1 of the SDS Standards. At this workshop you can learn more about the tool, the testing that has taken place and how you can make use of the tool in your everyday practice.
4. European models of Personal Assistant employer cooperatives – learning from Sweden and Norway
Join the European Network on Independent Living (ENIL) to learn more about Personal Assistance cooperatives in Europe. Representatives from STIL in Sweden and ULOBA in Norway will discuss how these cooperatives support community-based living and challenge societal barriers. This session will explore the organisational aspects of cooperatives, including legal base, governance, decision-making, and funding. It will also look at the diverse activities they undertake—from direct member support to broader research, advocacy and awareness initiatives.
5. Implementing the recommendations from the Personal Assistant National Training Framework- a resource for PA Employers & PAs
Following the publication of the National Training Framework in early 2024, progress has been made in implementing the framework. Join Johanne and Zoe from SDS Scotland to discuss and shape the development of training resources, and work with SDS Scotland to improve the skills and confidence of PA employers to create and source relevant training for their PAs.
Accessibility
The meeting will be held online via Microsoft Teams. Subtitles and chat function will be available.
If you require BSL interpretation please let us know by Monday 21 October at the latest.
If you have any other accessibility requirements, please let us know when you book your ticket, or contact us at info@sdsscotland.org.uk
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