Welfare Reform on the Web (October 2000): Social Care - UK - Community Care

CHARGING FOR HOME CARE SERVICES

D. Tree

Managing Community Care, vol. 8, Aug. 2000, p. 3-6

Considers the Department of Health's reaction to the Audit Commission's report on charging for home-care services in the light of its longstanding failure to provide local authorities with clear guidance on this issue.

THE DOMICILIARY CARE MARKET IN SCOTLAND: QUASI-MARKETS REVISITED

L. Curtice and F. Fraser

Health and Social care in the Community, vol. 8, 2000, p. 260-268

A study to establish the extent to which there was a mixed economy in the purchase and provision of domiciliary care in 1996 revealed reluctance by local authority managers to divest the provision of domiciliary care to voluntary and private agencies. Explanation of the slower rate of privatisation in Scotland compared to England may lie in the level of state regulation, for in Scotland there was no compulsion on local authorities to purchase from the independent sector. The paper questions whether the incentives for change were sufficient in Scotland under the quasi-market. If local partnerships do not deliver changes the government may have to take a more active role to modernise domiciliary care services.

HUMAN RIGHTS ACT 1998: IMPLICATIONS FOR COMMUNITY CARE SERVICES

J. Dow

Managing Community Care, vol. 8, Aug. 2000, p. 24-32

Article considers the impact the Human Rights Act 1998 will have on local social services and health authorities, and looks at some recent cases as examples of how the courts may approach human rights points in practice. It warns authorities not to be complacent and urges them to review policies and procedures in readiness for the implementation of the Act.

USER PARTICIPATION NOW: EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE IN BEST VALUE

I. Buchanan

Managing Community Care, vol. 8, Aug. 2000, p. 11-15

The user voice has been diminished by New Labour's increased reliance on regulation and inspection, notably in Best Value. Reflecting on community care implementation, paper contends that within Best Value users may maximise their influence in an evidence-based practice frame.

WHY THE GOVERNMENT MUST RING THE CHANGES ON CHARGES

S. Wright

Working with Older People, vol. 4, July 2000, p. 21-23

Describes some of the adverse consequences for older and mentally handicapped people when councils charge for essential services, and summarises the safeguards that should be included in any national guidance.