In sharing their lived experience, these service users have been giving a picture of what works well and what could be better, providing the vital basis for making improvements that will be effective and meaningful.

South Lanarkshire councillors have been updated on the work to improve self‑directed support (SDS) using learning from Working Together for Change — a six‑month project that looked at how SDS works day‑to‑day for everyone involved.

The project was commissioned by South Lanarkshire University Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) as part of a national programme to improve SDS and was delivered locally by the independent charity In Control Scotland.

Councillor Margaret Walker, Chair of the Council’s Social Work Resources Committee, said: “Self‑directed support is about giving people more choice, control and flexibility in how their support is arranged.

“This work has helped councillors better understand what people’s experiences of SDS are really like, and where changes could make a positive difference.

“Hearing directly from people who use services and from carers helps ensure improvements are realistic and focused on what matters most to those who rely on social care.”

During workshops and group discussions, people talked about what helps them feel informed, supported and in control, as well as where processes can sometimes make things harder than they need to be. Bringing together people’s lived experience with professional knowledge helped agree shared priorities for practical improvements.

Margaret Moncrieff, Chair of the South Lanarkshire Health and Social Care Forum and a participant in the project, said: “I am pleased to say that the voices of people with lived experience, along with those of carers, were at the heart of this work.

“It was an excellent piece of work, and everyone involved is committed to ensuring this process continues, encouraging ongoing learning and continuous improvement.”

Lead Facilitator Brett Rogers, from In Control Scotland, said: “Our aim was to bring together people from across South Lanarkshire to make positive change in social care, harnessing the unique skills, insights, knowledge and perspectives of those using and delivering social care to unlock the huge potential of self‑directed support.

“We were able to work with a brilliant balance of participants from different backgrounds who looked at how the health and social care system currently works and, crucially, how and where it could – and needs to – work better.

“Senior management from the HSCP were extremely receptive to hearing from the participants and I am confident that meaningful and lasting change can come from this and enable SDS to help disabled people as well as it possibly can to receive the right care in the right way.”

Councillors also heard about steps being taken to support the Personal Assistant (PA) workforce, recognising the important role PAs play in helping people live independently, maintain continuity of care and make choices about their support.