Workshops announced for SDS National Voice conference 2025
With just a month to go until the SDS National Voice conference on 19 March 2025, we’re pleased to announce details of the workshops that will be taking place on the day.
We’ll be joined by facilitators from across the sector to run eight different workshops on the day, with six run as hybrid workshops to enable online attendees to participate.
The interactive sessions cover a range of topics, among them pooling SDS budgets, supported decision making, SDS for people living with dementia and the SDS Standards.
Don’t miss out on your space at this year’s event, which is taking place at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre, Wednesday 19 March, 9.30am – 4.30pm.
Find the full programme details and book your space online via Eventbrite.
Details of the workshops
A. Self-Directed Support – Pooling Budgets (hybrid)
Under our legislation Self-Directed Support has 4 options to enable supported people and their families to have choice and control around their support. Although pooled budget is referred to, it is not widely utilised or readily discussed within the 4 options.
In January this year In Control Scotland published a research paper Pooled Budgets in Self-Directed Support which sought to explore if pooling budgets was being utilised within Self-Directed Support… if so, what worked well and if not, what would need to be put in place for it to be more widely utilised.
This workshop, facilitated by In Control Scotland, will explain some of the findings and offer an opportunity to discuss how this learning could help improve the knowledge and understanding of pooling budgets across Scotland.
B. Building Better Pathways: Improving Access to Self-Directed Support for People Living with Dementia (hybrid)
In this interactive workshop, Cate Pemble, social scientist and Research Fellow at the University of Stirling, will explore key challenges and opportunities around accessing Self-directed Support (SDS) for people living with dementia and their carers. Using real-life examples and research, she will highlight some of the common barriers people face when trying to access SDS as they age, as well as share ideas for how SDS could be improved to better meet the needs of people living with dementia.
This workshop is a chance for you to reflect on your own experiences and knowledge about SDS, share your insights and expertise with others, and help shape better resources, training, and support for people living with dementia, their carers, and the organisations that support them.
C. Supporting people to make decisions: the stories and impact of Supported Decision Making (in person only)
This workshop is a brief introduction to Supported Decision Making. Everybody has the right to equal recognition and respect for their choices. Some people may have difficulty when making decisions and may benefit from support to ensure that decisions made by them, or about them, genuinely reflect their choices. This workshop will introduce how Supported Decision Making can benefit people. The workshop is being facilitated by The Advocacy Project, a human rights-based organisation and provides independent advocacy in Glasgow and East Renfrewshire. Independent Advocacy supports people to have their voices heard and be empowered to be involved in decisions that affect their life.
D. The SDS Standards: a catalyst for change (hybrid)
Come and connect with the Social Work Scotland Self-directed Support Team as they guide you through the SDS Framework of Standards including a new Standard 13 on Direct Payments. Learn how we can use the standards to collaborate with peers, providers, leaders, and stakeholders and how the Standards can be a catalyst for conversations about good Self-directed Support.
The SDS Standards challenge us all to do better and during this workshop we can discuss ‘what will it take to implement them?’ And ‘how can we use the Standards to improve the experiences of supported people, carers, and practitioners?’
E. Safe and Supported: Enabling SDS Recipients to Employ with Confidence (hybrid)
Mark Bates Ltd is a trusted provider of Employer’s Liability Insurance for individuals who employ Personal Assistants (PAs) through Self-Directed Support (SDS). In this workshop, we will explore how we collaborate with SDS support organisations and Local Authority SDS teams to protect and safeguard recipients, ensuring they have the knowledge, protection, and confidence to manage their own care and support effectively. From employment contracts to disciplinary procedures, we work closely with all parties to support SDS employers. Join us to discuss how we can help.
F. Supporting the PA Employer and PA Relationship: The road so far in developing training resources (hybrid)
In this workshop, facilitated by Self Directed Support Scotland’s Johanne MacBean and Zoe McIntyre, you’ll have the chance to learn more about the resources developed as part of the PA National Training Framework. You’ll learn who can benefit, and in what ways, from the resources, how they support Employers to have the knowledge and confidence to carry out their role and how they address some of the gaps in relevant training material available to Employers and their PAs. And, you can learn how your involvement could support the creation of further PA employer and PA pathways.
G. Supporting unpaid carers to achieve positive outcomes (hybrid)
This workshop, facilitated by Amanda Vickery from Carers of West Lothian and Justin Boyes from Perth and Kinross Association of Voluntary Service (PKAVS) will compare and contrast independent support provided to unpaid carers in two different Local Authority areas. At this workshop you’ll get a helpful recap of legislation in relation to SDS for unpaid carers, consider what personal outcomes are, and share common outcomes identified by unpaid carers. There will also be an opportunity for participants to explore activities that can support positive outcomes for carers and enable them to manage their caring role.
H. Dedicated networking space (in person only)
In response to feedback from our last event, this year we are including the option of a dedicated networking session during both workshop blocks.
The workshop is only available to in-person attendees, and will give you the chance to make connections, share experiences and exchange ideas with each other in a rapid-fire “speed dating” session!
This is a great opportunity to meet others from across Scotland, with a range of backgrounds and roles, but a shared interest in Self-directed Support.
