Abstract
Purpose
This article explores the impact of personalisation policy on providers of social care services in England, mainly to older people, within the context of austerity and different conceptions of personalisation
Design/methodology/approach
The article draws on part of a longitudinal study of the care workforce, which involved 188 interviews with managers and staff, undertaken in two rounds.
Findings
Four themes were identified: changing understandings and awareness of personalisation; adapting services to fit new requirements; differences in contracting; and the impact on business viability.
Research limitations/implications
The article reflects a second look at the data focusing on a particular theme, which was not the focus of the research study. Furthermore, the data were gathered from self-selecting participants working in services in four contrasting areas, rather than a representative sample.
Practical implications
The research raises questions about the impact of a commercial model of ‘personalised care’, involving personal budgets (PBs) and spot contracts, on the stability of social care markets. Without a pluralistic, well-funded and vibrant social care market, it is hard to increase consumer choice of services from a range of possible providers and therefore fulfil the government’s purposes for personalisation, particularly in a context of falling revenues from local authorities.
Originality/value
The research presents an analysis of interviews with care providers and care workers mainly working with older people. Their views on personalisation have not often been considered in contrast to the sizeable literature on Personal Budgets recipients and social workers.
This article explores the impact of personalisation policy on providers of social care services in England, mainly to older people, within the context of austerity and different conceptions of personalisation
Design/methodology/approach
The article draws on part of a longitudinal study of the care workforce, which involved 188 interviews with managers and staff, undertaken in two rounds.
Findings
Four themes were identified: changing understandings and awareness of personalisation; adapting services to fit new requirements; differences in contracting; and the impact on business viability.
Research limitations/implications
The article reflects a second look at the data focusing on a particular theme, which was not the focus of the research study. Furthermore, the data were gathered from self-selecting participants working in services in four contrasting areas, rather than a representative sample.
Practical implications
The research raises questions about the impact of a commercial model of ‘personalised care’, involving personal budgets (PBs) and spot contracts, on the stability of social care markets. Without a pluralistic, well-funded and vibrant social care market, it is hard to increase consumer choice of services from a range of possible providers and therefore fulfil the government’s purposes for personalisation, particularly in a context of falling revenues from local authorities.
Originality/value
The research presents an analysis of interviews with care providers and care workers mainly working with older people. Their views on personalisation have not often been considered in contrast to the sizeable literature on Personal Budgets recipients and social workers.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | https://doi.org/10.1108/WWOP-11-2018-0022 |
| Pages (from-to) | 37-45 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Working with Older People |
| Volume | 23 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 11 Mar 2019 |
Keywords
- Care homes
- Home care
- Older people
- Personalisation
- Residential care
- Social care
