Northern Ireland

Chair: Dr Helga Sneddon

SDS Network Northern Ireland brings together commissioners, contract leads, providers, professionals, advocates and individuals to develop, implement and improve self-directed support across the region.

The network is grounded in the values of SDS and aligned to the wider SDS Network Global movement.

Our focus is to support and help shape a sustainable SDS system that empowers people to direct their own care and support.

What is our purpose?

The network aims to:

• Provide a safe, collaborative space for reflection, troubleshooting and shared learning around the development and implementation of SDS in Northern Ireland.
• Strengthen understanding of the opportunities and risks in shifting to more personalised forms of commissioning.
• Connect operational delivery with strategic intent, bridging contracts, commissioning, practice, and lived experience.
• Share learning to inform regional planning, scaling, and policy development.
• Align local practice with national and international standards and principles for SDS.

Who can become a member?

Our network is primarily aimed at professionals, groups and individuals involved in the development, implementation and use of SDS in NI. This includes:

• People with lived experience
• Strategic leads and operational managers within Trusts and SPPG
• Contract and commissioning professionals
• Policy makers and government representatives
• Provider representatives involved in SDS delivery
• Relevant community and voluntary sector organisations
• Those working in brokerage/navigation roles

Membership is free, although the network welcomes contributions of time, knowledge, and insight from all participants. 

Please join us, sign up here

You can also follow SDS Network NI on: Bluesky and Instagram

We officially launched SDS Network Northern Ireland online on 26th March with an inspiring and practical event. We discussed how the network will be able to help shape Self-Directed Support in Northern Ireland and introduced upcoming community of practice events. We also heard from Simon Duffy on global learning and core principles of SDS, powerful lived experience and carer perspectives, and a local showcase demonstrating what is possible when budgets are used creatively. Read more about the event here.