The coalition government published a national strategy to reduce the number of children and vulnerable adults who went missing from home or care.
Source: Missing Children and Adults: A cross government strategy, Home Office
Links: Strategy | Hansard | Home Office press release | Community Care report
Date: 2011-Dec
An article examined the overall readiness of joint strategic needs assessment (JSNA) to respond to the new functions proposed by the Health and Social Care Bill 2011. Despite significant progress in the quality of JSNA during the period 2008-2010, raised expectations posed a serious challenge. It was possible to identify a number of key issues that needed to be directly addressed if the process were to fulfil the new expectations.
Source: Ed Harding and Michelle Kane, 'Joint strategic needs assessment: reconciling new expectations with reality', Journal of Integrated Care, Volume 19 Number 6
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Dec
The report was published of a review (led by John Compton) into health and social care in Northern Ireland. It said that there was an 'unassailable case for change': pressures arising from a growing and ageing population, and from poorer health and a growth in chronic conditions, threatened the stability of the existing services. The review set out a new model that should drive the future shape and direction of services. The model included: placing the individual at the centre, by promoting a better outcome for the service user, their carer, and their family; using outcomes and quality evidence to shape services; a focus on prevention and tackling inequalities; integrated care; realizing value for money; and maximizing the use of technology.
Source: Transforming Your Care: A review of health and social care in Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland Executive
Links: Report | Ministerial Statement | NIE press release | RCPsych press release
Date: 2011-Dec
An article examined whether an economic analysis of costs and benefits posed a threat or an opportunity for future public participation in health and social care. There was a need for innovative indicators that captured the costs and benefits of public participation, as well as appropriate resources for the economic analysis of such initiatives.
Source: Walid El Ansari and Edward Andersson, 'Beyond value? Measuring the costs and benefits of public participation', Journal of Integrated Care, Volume 19 Number 6
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Dec
An article examined the thesis that there was a discernible 'direction for social work' in Britain. It considered the ways in which its development was affected by state policies influenced by new managerialist, 'market' based, and neoliberal ideologies. There had been substantial changes across services for children, for adults, and in social work education over the previous decade that reflected the ethos of central government policy, rather than the ethos and values of social work. Awareness of the role of government policy in shaping the identity of the profession, and responsiveness to that agenda, were critical to maintaining social work's integrity.
Source: Penelope Welbourne, 'Twenty-first century social work: the influence of political context on public service provision in social work education and service delivery', European Journal of Social Work, Volume 14 Issue 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Nov
A paper sought to identify patterns of utilization of formal and informal long-term care (LTC) across European countries, and discussed possible determinants of demand for different types of care. There were substantial differences in obtaining LTC. In the Nordic-type countries with high state responsibility and high provision of institutional care, informal care was of less importance and – if received – was mostly care provided on an irregular basis from outside the family. Countries of continental Europe were less unified, with a high share of people using formal settings of care, but also combining formal and informal care. In Mediterranean countries provision of informal care, including personal care, played a much greater role than formal LTC.
Source: Agnieszka Sowa and Izabela Styczynska, Determinants of Obtaining Formal and Informal LTC across European Countries, Working Paper 431/2011, Center for Social and Economic Research (Warsaw)
Links: Paper
Date: 2011-Nov
An article examined the different integrated approaches to healthcare services supporting older people in care homes, and identified barriers and facilitators to integrated working. There was limited evidence about what the outcomes of different approaches to integrated care between health services and care homes might be.
Source: Sue Davies, Claire Goodman, Frances Bunn, Christina Victor, Angela Dickinson, Steve Iliffe, Heather Gage, Wendy Martin, and Katherine Froggatt, 'A systematic review of integrated working between care homes and health care services', BMC Health Services Research, Volume 11
Date: 2011-Nov
An audit briefing said that there were significant geographical variations in the types of care received by people aged 65 and over. Despite the strong focus for many years on improving joint working across the National Health Service and social care, progress remained 'patchy'.
Source: Joining up Health and Social Care: Improving value for money across the interface, Audit Commission
Links: Briefing | Audit Commission press release
Date: 2011-Nov
A report examined why adults with multiple needs, especially those in contact with the criminal justice system, often had bad experiences when dealing with organizations that were supposed to help them.
Source: Sarah Anderson, Complex Responses: Understanding poor frontline responses to adults with multiple needs – A review of the literature and analysis of contributing factors, Revolving Doors Agency
Links: Report | RDA press release
Date: 2011-Nov
A taskforce report said that early action should be a fundamental principle shaping the way in which both government and civil society spent their resources and judged their success. Investing wisely and early in social well-being yielded a 'triple dividend' – thriving lives, costing less, contributing more. The report put forward a set of ideas and initiatives for developing communities in which early intervention was the norm.
Source: Early Action Task Force, The Triple Dividend: Thriving Lives, costing less, contributing more, Community Links
Links: Report | Summary | Community Links press release
Date: 2011-Nov
A new book examined service user involvement in health and social care.
Source: Marian Barnes and Phil Cotterell (eds.), Critical Perspectives on User Involvement, Policy Press
Links: Summary
Date: 2011-Nov
An article examined adult protection referrals collected by two English local authorities during 1998-2005. Sexual abuse was most frequently reported for people with intellectual disabilities, who were also at higher risk of abuse when living out of area. Older people were most at risk of financial abuse in community settings and of neglect in residential care.
Source: Paul Cambridge, Jim Mansell, Julie Beadle-Brown, Alisoun Milne, and Beckie Whelton, ' A study of adult protection referrals in two local authorities: an overview of findings for managers and practitioners', Journal of Adult Protection, Volume 13 Number 5
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Oct
The coalition government published a 'strategic vision' (following consultation) for promoting the use of volunteers in health and social care services. It highlighted the potential of volunteering in terms of improving health and well-being and addressing health inequalities.
Source: Social Action for Health and Well-Being: Building co-operative communities, Department of Health
Date: 2011-Oct
An article examined the early impact of individual budgets (IBs) in social care in England on providers' services, workforces, and administrative burdens. Providers were positive about the opportunities for better-quality services that IBs could bring about: but they highlighted a number of obstacles to their effectiveness, and reported a range of potentially adverse administrative and workforce consequences that might jeopardize the 'consumerist' policy objectives of increased choice and efficiency.
Source: Mark Wilberforce, Caroline Glendinning, David Challis, Jose-Luis Fernandez, Sally Jacobs, Karen Jones, Martin Knapp, Jill Manthorpe, Nicola Moran, Ann Netten, and Martin Stevens, ' Implementing consumer choice in long-term care: the impact of individual budgets on social care providers in England', Social Policy and Administration, Volume 45 Number 5
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Oct
An article examined the inter-relationship of personal budgets and adult safeguarding. The personalization of social care was often interpreted as equating to greater use of direct payments, rather than other facets of this policy transformation.
Source: Jill Manthorpe, Martin Stevens, Joan Rapaport, David Challis, Sally Jacobs, Ann Netten, Karen Jones, Martin Knapp, Mark Wilberforce, and Caroline Glendinning, ' Individual budgets and adult safeguarding: parallel or converging tracks? Further findings from the evaluation of the individual budget pilots', Journal of Social Work, Volume 11 Number 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Oct
A paper examined the role of community engagement in supporting social care provision.
Source: Kate Fulton and Claire Winfield, Community Engagement, Centre for Welfare Reform
Links: Paper | Community Care report
Date: 2011-Sep
A study found that just 150 new personal budget arrangements had been set up in self-directed support pilot sites in Scotland over a 2-year period, despite 'significant investment' by the Scottish Government. Although self-directed support did work well for those with learning disabilities, significant time and investment would be required for it to take off across the country and for all groups.
Source: Julie Ridley, Helen Spandler Ann Rosengard, Simon Little, Michelle Cornes, Jill Manthorpe, Susan Hunter, Tony Kinder, and Bill Gray, Evaluation of Self-Directed Support Test Sites in Scotland, Scottish Government
Links: Report | Community Care report
Date: 2011-Sep
A paper examined innovative 'peer support' approaches to social care. It said that local leaders should build respect for peer support into the heart of their approach to personalization.
Source: Kate Fulton and Claire Winfield, Peer Support, Centre for Welfare Reform
Links: Paper | Community Care report
Date: 2011-Sep
An article examined examples of competition, freedom of choice,, and personalized care in health and social services in England and Sweden. It considered the type of relationships emerging between users/consumers, market-driven providers, and various agencies of the state under a marketized welfare system.
Source: Marianna Fotaki, 'Towards developing new partnerships in public services: users as consumers, citizens and/or co-producers in health and social care in England and Sweden', Public Administration, Volume 89 Issue 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Sep
A series of linked reports examined the approach to risk-taking in adult social care.
Source: Stuart Marchant, Risky Business?, Joseph Rowntree Foundation | David Wiseman, A ?Four Nations? Perspective on Rights, Responsibilities, Risk and Regulation in Adult Social Care, Joseph Rowntree Foundation | Jon Glasby, Whose Risk Is It Anyway? Risk and regulation in an era of personalisation, Joseph Rowntree Foundation | Frank Furedi, Changing Societal Attitudes, and Regulatory Responses, to Risk-Taking in Adult Care, Joseph Rowntree Foundation | Lynne Berry, The Art of Living Dangerously: Risk and regulation, Joseph Rowntree Foundation
Links: Report (1) | Report (2) | Report (3) | Report (4) | Report (5)
Date: 2011-Sep
A report examined the evidence base for the delivery of adult social services. It said that there was a strong body of evidence pointing to the importance of local partnerships, local leadership, and outcomes-based commissioning in improving services.
Source: Alison Petch, An Evidence Base for the Delivery of Adult Services, Association of Directors of Social Work
Links: Report | ADSW press release | IRISS press release
Date: 2011-Sep
A report examined how social media were being used by social service users and carers, in the context of personalization and self-directed support.
Source: Shirley Ayres, The Future for Personalisation? Service users, carers and digital engagement, Institute for Research and Innovation in Social Services
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Aug
An article examined how the personalization agenda and adult safeguarding could work together in policy and practice. Person-centred working in adult safeguarding, along with the mechanism of self-directed support planning and outcome review, could support the individual to identify the risks they wanted to take and those that they wanted to avoid in order to stay safe.
Source: Sarah Carr, 'Enabling risk and ensuring safety: self-directed support and personal budgets', Journal of Adult Protection, Volume 13 Number 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Aug
A paper described a typology of long-term care systems in European countries.
Source: Markus Kraus, Thomas Czypionka, Monika Riedel, Esther Mot, and Peter Willeme, How European Nations Care for Their Elderly: A new typology of long-term care systems, Policy Brief 7, European Network of Economic Policy Research Institutes
Links: Paper
Date: 2011-Aug
A report investigated what was meant by integrated care in the National Health Service, and explained the distinction between the terms 'integrated care' and 'integration'. It explored integration from an NHS perspective, identified the concepts that underpinned integrated care, and suggested how these could be used to inform practical integration efforts both within and beyond the NHS.
Source: Sara Shaw, Rebecca Rosen, and Benedict Rumbold, What Is Integrated Care? An overview of integrated care in the NHS, Nuffield Trust
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Jul
An article examined the processes and outcomes of adult protection referrals in two local authorities in England. More work was needed to improve and standardize adult protection monitoring data if it were to inform case management and inter-authority comparisons more effectively.
Source: Paul Cambridge, Julie Beadle-Brown, Alisoun Milne, Jim Mansell, and Beckie Whelton, 'Adult protection: the processes and outcomes of adult protection referrals in two English local authorities', Journal of Social Work, Volume 11 Number 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Jul
Researchers examined the outcomes and experiences of people using personal budgets. Personal budgets worked just as well for older people as everyone else. The processes used for delivering personal budgets were more difficult than they needed to be. More work needed to be done to make direct payments more accessible, especially to older people. There was a need to simplify and clarify the rules and regulations surrounding personal budgets.
Source: Chris Hatton and John Waters, The National Personal Budget Survey, Think Local, Act Personal
Links: Report | Summary | TLAP press release | NCF press release | Community Care report | Guardian report
Date: 2011-Jun
A think-tank report said that the government should create a universal entitlement to telecare support, free at the point of use. The full range of policy levers should be used to promote telecare, starting with the attendance allowance system.
Source: James Lloyd, Telecare Ready: Creating a universal entitlement to telecare, Strategic Society Centre
Links: Report | Public Finance report
Date: 2011-Jun
A report examined recent policy changes across housing, health, and social care; and investigated how these might provide new opportunities for integrating local services for the benefit of communities and individuals.
Source: Sarah Davis, Localism: Delivering integration across housing, health and care, Chartered Institute of Housing
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Jun
An article examined the principal conclusions from a pilot programme of peer reviews of adult safeguarding arrangements that was carried out in 4 English local authorities. Councils might need to revisit how they developed their safeguarding arrangements in the light of major policy, financial, and demographic shifts over the coming years.
Source: Richard Humphries, 'Adult safeguarding: early messages from peer reviews', Journal of Adult Protection, Volume 13 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Jun
An article examined the impact of social care reforms since the 1970s on the discretion that social workers in England exercised as 'street-level bureaucrats'.
Source: Kathryn Ellis, '"Street-level bureaucracy" revisited: the changing face of frontline discretion in adult social care in England', Social Policy and Administration, Volume 45 Number 3
Links: Abstract
Notes: Michael Lipsky's book Street-Level Bureaucracy: Dilemmas of the individual in public services (1980) introduced the concept of 'street-level bureaucracy' to describe the role of public employees in making (and not just delivering) public policies.
Date: 2011-Jun
A report described the outcome of a simulation exercise that examined how the National Health Service and its local government partners could deliver better outcomes in health and social care with fewer resources. It highlighted the 'immense challenge' of moving beyond short-term efficiency savings to a longer-term transformational redesign of services; the tension between 'top-down' approaches to change and devolved models based on personalised care, choice, and provider incentives; and the potential of health and well-being boards to offer system leadership in moving towards different models of care.
Source: Sarah Harvey, Laurie McMahon, and Richard Humphries, Routes for Social and Health Care: A simulation exercise, King s Fund
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Jun
A new book examined what person-centred support meant to service users, practitioners, carers, and managers. It looked at what barriers stood in its way and how these could be overcome.
Source: Peter Beresford et al., Supporting People: Towards a person-centred approach, Policy Press
Links: Summary | JRF Findings | JRF press release | Guardian report
Date: 2011-May
The coalition government published plans to strengthen the protection of vulnerable adults by making it a legal requirement for all local authorities in England to have a Safeguarding Adults Board.
Source: Statement of Government Policy on Adult Safeguarding, Department of Health
Links: Statement | DH press release
Date: 2011-May
A briefing paper examined issues surrounding reablement (designed to help people learn or relearn the skills necessary for daily living that might have been lost through deterioration in health and/or increased support needs). People using reablement welcomed the emphasis on helping them gain independence and better functioning, although evidence on user and carer views needed to be strengthened.
Source: Jennifer Francis, Mike Fisher, and Deborah Rutter, Reablement: A Cost-Effective Route to Better Outcomes, Research Paper 36, Social Care Institute for Excellence
Links: Paper
Date: 2011-Apr
A new book examined issues of sexuality and sexual identity in social work, informed by feminist research.
Source: Priscilla Dunk-West and Trish Hafford-Letchfield (eds.), Sexual Identities and Sexuality in Social Work: Research and reflections from women in the field, Ashgate Publications
Links: Summary
Date: 2011-Apr
An article examined the introduction of individual budgets for social care for adults and older people. The contexts of local collaboration had created problems for the implementation of the personalization pilots, jeopardized inter-sectoral relationships, and threatened some of the collaborative arrangements that had developed over the previous decade.
Source: Caroline Glendinning et al., 'Personalisation and partnership: competing objectives in English adult social care? The individual budget pilot projects and the NHS', Social Policy and Society, Volume 10 Issue 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Apr
An article examined the concept of choice in public service policy, illustrated through an evaluation of individual budgets (IB) in social care. IB holders perceived that they had more control over their lives and appreciated the extra choice over use of services, albeit with variations by user group: but problems of power relations, equity, and the constraints implied by the public nature of decision-making were complicating and limiting factors in producing the benefits envisaged.
Source: Martin Stevens et al., 'Assessing the role of increasing choice in English social care services', Journal of Social Policy, Volume 40 Issue 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Apr
An article examined whether traditional management approaches would be sufficient to deliver change when it came to implementing personalization, and outlined an alternative approach based on collaborative working in 'communities of practice'.
Source: Michelle Cornes, 'The challenge of managing change: what can we do differently to ensure personalisation?', Journal of Integrated Care, Volume 19 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Apr
A new book examined social work policy and practice in Northern Ireland. It covered the historical development of social work, explored the challenges that had arisen from delivering services both during and after the conflict, and addressed the new challenges created by the devolution settlement.
Source: Deirdre Heenan and Derek Birrell, Social Work in Northern Ireland: Conflict and change, Policy Press
Links: Summary
Date: 2011-Mar
A paper examined experiences of managing care trusts – single organizations leading on the commissioning and/or delivery of health and social care services. It concluded that this type of structure could provide benefits – but only if a history of joint working and trust existed, and if there was a clear vision and active engagement on the part of all stakeholders.
Source: Robin Miller, Helen Dickinson, and Jon Glasby, The Vanguard of Integration or a Lost Tribe? Care trusts ten years on, Health Services Management Centre (University of Birmingham)
Links: Paper | HSMC press release
Date: 2011-Mar
A study examined the published literature on the barriers to, and facilitators of, self-directed support in the social care system. Much of the research related to direct payments, and there was very little evidence about other forms of deployment.
Source: Jill Manthorpe et al., Self-Directed Support: A Review of the Barriers and Facilitators, Scottish Government
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Mar
A new textbook examined the concept of agency and how it could usefully inform social welfare practice.
Source: Liz Jeffery, Understanding Agency: Social welfare and change, Policy Press
Links: Summary
Date: 2011-Mar
An article examined how the widespread introduction of personal budgets was likely to affect the market for home care. Although there were some promising signs of changes that should result in a more responsive market, there were some structural features that might act as barriers. The roles of local authorities as facilitators would be essential.
Source: Kate Baxter, Caroline Glendinning, and Ian Greener, 'The implications of personal budgets for the home care market', Public Money and Management, Volume 31 Issue 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Mar
An article examined the perceptions of disabled people, carers, and older people of the role that social workers should perform in a 'personalized' world. Notions of power and autonomy were fundamental in understanding respondents' views of social work, with concerns raised about the power of social workers and statutory organizations.
Source: Janet Leece and David Leece, 'Personalisation: perceptions of the role of social work in a world of brokers and budgets', British Journal of Social Work, Volume 41 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Mar
An article introduced the concept of 'xenoracism' in social work with asylum-seekers. Social work continued to rely on outdated views and old-fashioned definitions of racism – despite the fact that 'exclusionary discourses' had since moved on.
Source: Shepard Masocha and Murray Simpson, 'Xenoracism: towards a critical understanding of the construction of asylum seekers and its implications for social work practice', Practice: Social Work in Action, Volume 23 Issue 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Feb
A study examined the opportunities for co-operatives and mutuals as service providers under personal budgets in social care and health. The market for personalized services was found to be underdeveloped: but co-operatives were not well understood by gatekeepers to social care and health services.
Source: Jenny Fisher, Mary Rayner, and Sue Baines, Personalisation of Social Care and Health: A Co-operative Solution, Co-operatives UK/Manchester Metropolitan University
Links: Report | MMU press release
Date: 2011-Feb
A report examined the elements of good leadership in the provision of adult social care services.
Source: Gemma Pearson, Penny Tamkin, Laura Blazey, and Ksenia Zheltoukhova, Outstanding Leadership in Social Care, National Skills Academy for Social Care
Links: Report | NSASC press release | Community Care report | Guardian report
Date: 2011-Feb
A new book examined the radical tradition within social work, and assessed its legacy, relevance, and prospects.
Source: Michael Lavalette (ed.), Radical Social Work Today: Social work at the crossroads, Policy Press
Links: Summary
Date: 2011-Feb
The Scottish Government outlined a proposal to integrate health and social care for adults. The plan was designed to give quicker access to care and staff, and reduce delayed discharges. Local councils and health boards would be expected to work more closely together under a 'lead commissioning' model.
Source: Press release 2 February 2011, Scottish Government
Links: Scottish Government press release | SNP press release | Community Care report | BBC report
Date: 2011-Feb
The Protection of Freedoms Bill was published. The Bill was designed to end 'unwarranted state intrusion' into private lives. Measures included:
• An end to routine monitoring under a radically reformed vetting and barring scheme for people working with children and vulnerable adults (following a review).
• The scrapping of 'Section 44' powers, which had been used to stop and search innocent people.
• The permanent reduction of the maximum period of pre-charge detention for terrorist suspects to 14 days.
• DNA samples and fingerprints of innocent people to be deleted from police databases (following a review).
• The removal of out-of-date convictions for consensual acts by gay men.
• Householders to be protected from local authority enquiries in relation to (for example) school catchment areas.
• An end to the fingerprinting of children in schools without parental consent.
Source: Protection of Freedoms Bill, Home Office, TSO | Vetting & Barring Scheme Remodelling Review: Report and Recommendations, Home Office/Department of Health/Department for Education | Sunita Mason (Independent Advisor for Criminality Information Management), A Common Sense Approach: A review of the criminal records regime in England and Wales, Home Office
Links: Bill | Explanatory notes | Vetting and Barring review | Home Office press release | DE press release | Liberal Democrats press release | ATL press release | BHA press release | Information Commissioner press release | LGF press release | Manifesto Club press release | NAHT press release | Nuffield Council on Bioethics press release | Privacy International press release | REC press release | Scout Association press release | Stonewall press release | TUC press release | UNISON press release | Volunteering England press release | Personnel Today report | Children & Young People Now report | Community Care report | BBC report | Guardian report
Date: 2011-Feb
Researchers examined how people with mental health problems, and older people, used self-directed support and personal budgets. Clearer information was needed about the different ways in which personal budgets could be held. There was a need for knowledgeable staff and continuity of relationships with staff. The role of carers in the assessment process needed adjusting. There were difficulties for services in keeping up with the changing needs and preferences of users.
Source: Liz Newbronner et al., Keeping Personal Budgets Personal: Learning from the experiences of older people, people with mental health problems and their carers, Adults' Services Report 40, Social Care Institute for Excellence
Date: 2011-Feb
An article examined the idea of integrated priority setting as a key element of health and social care commissioning. There were significant barriers in terms of financing, accessibility, evidence, and politics: although these barriers were not insurmountable, the solution lay in engagement with a range of stakeholders, rather than simply a technical process.
Source: Iestyn Williams, Helen Dickinson, and Suzanne Robinson, 'Joined-up rationing? An analysis of priority setting in health and social care commissioning', Journal of Integrated Care, Volume 19 Number 1
Date: 2011-Feb
A report presented the findings of research into whether predictive risk models could be used to predict an individual person's future need for intensive social care.
Source: Martin Bardsley, John Billings, Ludovic Jean Chassin, Jennifer Dixon, Elizabeth Eastmure, Theo Georghiou, Geraint Lewis, Rhema Vaithianathan, and Adam Steventon, Predicting Social Care Costs: A feasibility study, Nuffield Foundation
Date: 2011-Feb
A report examined how social care could be delivered in a sustainable way. It called for a 'fundamental rethink' of the approach to social care, so that pressing challenges such as climate change, spending cuts, and an ageing population could be addressed simultaneously.
Source: Simon Evans, Sarah Hills, and Lucy Grimshaw, Sustainable Systems of Social Care, Social Care Institute for Excellence
Links: Report | UWE press release
Date: 2011-Jan
An article examined the characteristics of the social care system that shaped demand for migrant labour, the conditions under which migrant care workers were employed, and older people's and migrant care workers' experiences of the quality of care. Underfunding of social care and interrelated workforce shortages were largely responsible for the extensive reliance on migrant workers among social care providers, and raised concerns for workforce inequalities and for the quality of care.
Source: Alessio Cangiano and Isabel Shutes, 'Ageing, demand for care and the role of migrant care workers in the UK', Journal of Population Ageing, Volume 3 Numbers 1-2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Jan
An article examined the workforce-related impacts that social care providers envisaged, and had thus far experienced, from an increase in the number of people using personal budgets. It presented findings in relation to financial and workforce planning, recruitment and retention, workforce training, and service user/provider relations. It also considered the implications for care workers, service users, and local authorities.
Source: Kate Baxter, Mark Wilberforce, and Caroline Glendinning, 'Personal budgets and the workforce implications for social care providers: expectations and early experiences', Social Policy and Society, Volume 10 Issue 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Jan
A report said that local authorities could help to tackle cross-generational issues by making more use of shared sites and shared care services – for example, by opening children's centre buildings for use by other age groups.
Source: United or Divided? Towards a 'cradle to grave' contract between generations, United for All Ages
Links: Report | UFAL press release
Date: 2011-Jan
A paper said that individual budgets could create a more patient-centred and integrated health and social care system – one that recognized individuals as 'experts by experience', and engaged them as partners alongside professionals in decisions about their own care. This would improve health outcomes, prevent individuals becoming dependent on specialist services, and make the National Health Service more efficient.
Source: Vidhya Alakeson, Active Patient: The case for self-direction in healthcare, Health Services Management Centre (University of Birmingham)/Centre for Welfare Reform
Links: Paper
Date: 2011-Jan
Researchers examined the immediate and longer-term impacts of home care re-ablement, the cost-effectiveness of the service, and the content and organization of re-ablement services. People who received home care re-ablement were compared with a group receiving conventional home care services: both groups were followed for up to one year. Although the service was effective and popular, its costs were relatively high and wiped out most of the savings it made in traditional health and social care services.
Source: Caroline Glendinning et al., Home Care Re-ablement Services: Investigating the longer-term impacts (prospective longitudinal study), Working Paper DHR 2438, Social Policy Research Unit (University of York)
Links: Report | Summary | York University press release | Guardian report
Notes: Re-ablement is a new, short-term intervention in English home care. It helps users to regain confidence and relearn self-care skills, and aims to reduce needs for longer-term support.
Date: 2011-Jan
An article examined the new coalition government's vision for health and social care. Despite risks of increased fragmentation, there were new opportunities for integration in both commissioning and provider functions. Local authorities should move quickly to influence and lead the new partnerships.
Source: Ray Jones, 'A "liberated" NHS: intentions, impact and implications for local government', Journal of Integrated Care, Volume 18 Number 6
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Jan
A paper examined how to use health and social care resources to achieve the best possible outcomes, in the context of difficult financial circumstances. Existing approaches would be insufficient to respond to the range of financial, demographic, and social challenges. The traditional response of simply changing structures tended to damage local relationships, give only a false impression of change, and actually make some staff more resistant to change.
Source: Jon Glasby, Helen Dickinson, and Robin Miller, All in This Together? Making best use of health and social care resources in an era of austerity, Health Services Management Centre (University of Birmingham)
Links: Paper
Date: 2011-Jan
A report said that there were justifiable grounds for reviewing the scope and operation of vetting and barring processes designed to protect vulnerable people: but this was different from suggesting that they were not needed. It called for a scheme that: focused on a much smaller number of workers and volunteers; had closer links between regulatory bodes to avoid duplication; had a one-time entry with more cost-effective access by employers to information; had clearly defined circumstances for barring; had portability between jobs for workers; and only used 'soft intelligence' if it had been validated and risk-assessed.
Source: Striking the Balance: The case for a common sense approach to the vetting and barring process, Action on Elder Abuse
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Jan
A report for the equal rights watchdog examined the extent to which advocacy provision was available to social care users in the groups protected by equality legislation, particularly in relation to personalized care.
Source: Advocacy in Social Care for Groups Protected Under Equality Legislation, Research Report 67, Equality and Human Rights Commission
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Jan