York academics investigate new funding regime for social care
Posted on 7 June 2006
Individual budgets are central to Government policies to modernise health and social care. An individual budget sets out the total resources to which a person is entitled from different services, including community care, equipment and housing adaptations budgets and funding to enable disabled people to get to work. The individual can then spend the money in ways that best meet their needs.
The scheme is being piloted in 13 local authorities across England and evaluated by the a consortium led by SPRU that includes,the Personal Social Services Research Unit at the London School of Economics and the Universities of Kent and Manchester; and the Social Care Workforce Research Unit at Kings College London. The research is funded by the Department of Health.
This is a major evaluation that will decide the future shape of social care in England
Professor Caroline Glendinning
The evaluation will look at the effectiveness of Individual Budgets in improving choice and flexibility, their cost-effectiveness, the process of implementing Individual Budgets, and their impact on front-line social care staff.
SPRU’s project leader, Professor Caroline Glendinning, said ‘This is a major evaluation that will decide the future shape of social care in England. The two-year study will enable Government to decide whether Individual Budgets are to be rolled out nationally and become the main form of social care support.’
Individual budgets were announced in a major report ‘Improving the Life Chances of Disabled People’ published by the Cabinet Office Strategy Unit last year and subsequently endorsed by last autumn’s health and social care White Paper.
Notes to editors:
- Further information on the IBSEN project at http://php.york.ac.uk/inst/spru/research/summs/ibsen.php
- The Social Policy Research Unit has an international reputation for excellence in research in social policy, especially health and social care, poverty, social security and employment. More information at www.york.ac.uk/spru