Welfare Reform on the Web (March 2007): Social care - UK - community care

Direct payments in England: factors linked to variations in local provision

J.-L. Fernandez and others

Journal of Social Policy, vol. 36, 2007, p.97-121

The New Labour government has strongly promoted direct payments (user-controlled purchasing of social care) in order to advance its agenda of increasing user choice. However, implementation of direct payments at the local level has varied. This article explores the demand, supply and related factors associated with local variability in the uptake of direct payments.