Costs & funding

What care costs

Self Directed Support gives you legal control over how your social care budget is spent — including the right to choose your own provider, and to top up council-arranged care with private hours.

Self-Directed Support (SDS) is Scotland’s legal framework giving you choice over your social care. After a council assessment you choose one of four options:

-(Option 1) Direct Payment you manage. The council pays you the budget; you choose and pay your provider directly. You have maximum control.

-(Option 2) Individual Service Fund a provider manages for you. You choose the provider; the council manage the budget for you. Control without the admin.

-(Option 3) Council-arranged care. The council chooses and arranges your care for you

-(Option 4) a mix of the above Combine options across different parts of your support

Options 1 and 2 let you pick your own provider — including OakNest Care. We work under Options 1 and 2 across Edinburgh and West Lothian and we’ll help you navigate the process.

-Topping up - you can add privately funded hours on top of your council package — same trusted OakNest team, more support when you need it.

How to get a Self Directed Support (SDS) assessment

-Contact the social work department of your local council (Edinburgh, West Lothian) and request a free community care assessment. We can explain the process beforehand.