Alan's Story
My name is Alan. I’m a retired piano tuner and I live in Kirkcaldy.
I have relied on a wheelchair since the turn of the century and require assistance in getting about. I used to attend Fife Council’s Viewforth Centre until a few years ago, which I enjoyed and found to be a useful source of support. When the centre closed, it was difficult to find a similar type of place that was suitable to my needs. It was around that time that I became aware of Self Directed Support (SDS) - known at that time as Direct Payments.
With SDS this gave me some control over the budget allocated to me by Fife Council, so I buy and direct my own support through an agency. I could employ my own staff directly if I wished but, this way, the agency takes care of the ‘formalities’ – income tax, NI etc.
The use of SDS has made quite a difference to my life. I have flexibility in how I want to arrange things and feel that I’m master of my own affairs! There is also the additional advantage of having a fairly settled team of care staff working with me – I don’t have the difficulty of different people coming and going, not knowing who anyone is. Importantly, my care staff know me and know what support and assistance I need. That consistency gives me more stability in my life. Without SDS, I think I would a lot more restricted in what I can do and would probably be stuck in something of a rut.
Alex, one of my carers, thinks that the difference made by SDS is quite important: “Alan is quite an organised individual really and knows what he wants to do. All his appointments and commitments are logged in his diary – it’s our job to support him in getting to these appointments! He has a lot more confidence when we’re out with him – whether it’s to a retired union members’ meeting or on a day trip to St Andrews or Glasgow. I think us being there makes all the difference.”
My carers also help out if I need to make a call to take something up with, say, the Council or a contractor. Sometimes it can be easy to get flustered or lose your temper when you’re trying to argue on your own but when one of my carers makes the call, they can be calmer and a bit more assured and this usually helps get the matter sorted out!
With the support of my carers through SDS, I am now able to live with a good bit more independence and confidence than I had been before.
I have relied on a wheelchair since the turn of the century and require assistance in getting about. I used to attend Fife Council’s Viewforth Centre until a few years ago, which I enjoyed and found to be a useful source of support. When the centre closed, it was difficult to find a similar type of place that was suitable to my needs. It was around that time that I became aware of Self Directed Support (SDS) - known at that time as Direct Payments.
With SDS this gave me some control over the budget allocated to me by Fife Council, so I buy and direct my own support through an agency. I could employ my own staff directly if I wished but, this way, the agency takes care of the ‘formalities’ – income tax, NI etc.
The use of SDS has made quite a difference to my life. I have flexibility in how I want to arrange things and feel that I’m master of my own affairs! There is also the additional advantage of having a fairly settled team of care staff working with me – I don’t have the difficulty of different people coming and going, not knowing who anyone is. Importantly, my care staff know me and know what support and assistance I need. That consistency gives me more stability in my life. Without SDS, I think I would a lot more restricted in what I can do and would probably be stuck in something of a rut.
Alex, one of my carers, thinks that the difference made by SDS is quite important: “Alan is quite an organised individual really and knows what he wants to do. All his appointments and commitments are logged in his diary – it’s our job to support him in getting to these appointments! He has a lot more confidence when we’re out with him – whether it’s to a retired union members’ meeting or on a day trip to St Andrews or Glasgow. I think us being there makes all the difference.”
My carers also help out if I need to make a call to take something up with, say, the Council or a contractor. Sometimes it can be easy to get flustered or lose your temper when you’re trying to argue on your own but when one of my carers makes the call, they can be calmer and a bit more assured and this usually helps get the matter sorted out!
With the support of my carers through SDS, I am now able to live with a good bit more independence and confidence than I had been before.